Press Release.............................. UNESCAP News Services

23 May 2003

Information Note: N/10/2003

UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders to discuss her conclusions

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders, Ms Hina Jilani, will discuss the conclusions of her current mission to Thailand on Tuesday, 27 May, 2003 at the UN Conference Center in Bangkok at 11.00 a.m..

Ms Jilani, a Pakistani lawyer and human rights activist, arrived in Thailand last Monday as part of a 10-day fact-finding mission to evaluate the situation of human rights advocates in the Kingdom.

As part of her mandate, Ms Jilani is meeting with senior Thai government officials, including Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, representatives from the NGO community and other human rights activists to discuss the role and protection of human rights defenders. She is conducting interviews in Bangkok, the northern city of Chiang Mai, and the southern town of Hat Yai before releasing her preliminary conclusions on Tuesday.

Ms Jilani, who is here on the invitation of the Thai Government, will later present her report to the UN Commission on Human Rights at its 60th session in April 2004.

You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend Ms Jilani's press conference to be held on Tuesday, 27 May, 2003 between 11am and noon, Theatre, United Nations Conference Centre, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok.

For further information, please contact United Nations Information Services, UNESCAP, United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. Tel: (+66) 02 288 1864-9, Fax: (66-2) 288 1052, E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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