Un expert launches first official visit to Greece

UN expert on racism and discrimination launches first official visit to Greece

GENEVA (1st May 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Mutuma Ruteere will visit Greece from 4 to 8 May 2015 to evaluate the situation of racism and discrimination in the country.

This is the first official mission to Greece by the independent expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to assess and report on the situation of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance in the world.

“This visit will allow me to learn more, first-hand, about the context of racism and discrimination in Greece, as well as about all the initiatives and efforts undertaken by the Government to combat this phenomenon,” Mr. Ruteere said. “I should then be able to provide observations and concrete recommendations to help fight racism and other forms of discrimination in the country.”

The human rights expert, who is visiting the country at the invitation of the Greek Government authorities, is scheduled to meet with Government officials, representatives of the legislative and judicial branches, UN agencies in the country, the National Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman, as well as a broad range of civil society actors.

Mr. Ruteere will hold a press conference at the end of the visit on Friday, 8 May 2015 at 14h30 at the Journalists' Union premises, 20 Akadimias Street, Athens, to present his preliminary findings and recommendations. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

A final report on the visit will be presented by the Special Rapporteur to the UN Human Rights Council in 2016.

ENDS

© Scoop Media