Geneva, Switzerland (BBN)- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma will conduct his first mission to the country next week.
Tomás Ojea Quintana, who will be in Burma, officially known as Myanmar, from August 3-7, has requested to meet a number of State officials and heads of State institutions during the visit, the UN Human Rights Council says in a press statement on Thursday.
The special rapporteur – who assumed the post in May this year – is also expected to meet with representatives of ethnic groups, political parties, religious groups, civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the statement said.
His schedule is expected to take him to Rangoon, the country’s commercial capital, and areas affected by the devastating Cyclone Nargis in May, as well as to both Kayin state in the southeast and Rakhine state on the coast of the Bay of Bengal.
“The Special Rapporteur wishes to engage in a constructive dialogue with the authorities with a view to improving the human rights situation of the people of Myanmar,” it added.
Besides, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari also plans to visit Burma next month after receiving a letter of invitation from the country’s authorities. This will be his fourth visit over the past year.
BBN/SI/SI/AD-July08-1.46AM
