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

Date: 14 Febraury 2011
Media Advisory No: N/02/2011

UN meeting to discuss fair trial for persons accused of acts terrorism

Bangkok – Senior United Nations officials, government representatives, judicial and human rights experts will meet in Bangkok to discuss how countries can ensure fair trial for persons accused of acts of terrorism.

In their fight against terrorism, some States have conducted activities which violate basic standards of fair trial, such as indefinite and incommunicado detention of terrorist suspects, the use of evidence obtained through torture, denial of access to legal representation for suspects and the use of special courts that do not meet international human rights standards. Other countries have imposed measures that limit access to the judicial process.

Organized by the United Nations, the two-day meeting will attract judges, prosecutors, lawyers, human rights experts, other legal practitioners and policy makers from Southeast Asia.

The meeting’s opening session will be open to the media and interviews with UN official may be arranged upon request.

WHAT: Meeting on Securing a Fair Trial for Persons Accused of Terrorism

WHO: Mr. Ivan Šimonoviæ, UN Assistant-Secretary-General for Human Rights*

Mr. Martin Scheinin, UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism**

Senior UN Officials, Government Representatives and Judicial Experts from Southeast Asia

WHERE: The Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers
2 Charoen Krung Soi 30, Siphya, Bangrak

WHEN: 17 – 18 February 2011
Opening session open to the Media on Thursday, 17 February 2011,
9.00am – 10.00 am

Media Contacts: Ms. Thawadi Pachariyangkun, UN ESCAP, (+66-2-2881861, pachariyangkun.unescap@un.org and unisbkk.unescap@un.org) or Ms. Jun-Hong Hannah Wu OHCHR (+66-2-2882627, wu9@un.org)

* Ivan Šimonoviæ assumed his functions as Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights on 17 July 2010. Before joining the United Nations, he held the position of Minister of Justice of Croatia from 2008. Previously Mr. Šimonoviæ was Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

**Martin Scheinin was appointed Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in August 2005. As Special Rapporteur, he is independent from any Government and serves in his individual capacity. Mr. Scheinin is Professor of Public International Law at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy.