INFORMATION NOTE

North Darfur Wali promises immediate access to detention facilities as UN Envoy wraps up visit

El Fasher, 26 June 2011 – A visit to Tawilla, North Darfur, and an in-depth discussion with the State Wali today concluded a three-day visit to Darfur by the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Kyung-wha Kang. She also met State Ministers and representatives of the State’s Committee for combating violence against women.

 “I have been promised by the Wali today that he would give us immediate access to the detention facilities,” said Ms. Kang. Their meeting also focussed on collaboration between authorities and aid groups to facilitate the latter’s access to and support for displaced populations, as well as UNAMID’s participation in a sub-forum on human rights, where specific cases can be brought up with State government counterparts.

“We also discussed issues of arbitrary detention and how that affects human rights and, of course, the need for very transparent and honest dialogue between UNAMID Human Rights Section here and the authorities, so that issues can be put on the table and discussed in a constructive manner,” the Human Rights envoy noted.

She later met with a number of civil society and community leaders of North Darfur on issues of their rights to advocacy and participation in the peace process.

On Saturday 25 June, Ms. Kang’s four-person delegation travelled to El Geneina in West Darfur where she visited the Deputy Wali and community leaders.

The delegation will hold a press conference tomorrow evening in Khartoum at the headquarters of the UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS).

Communication and Public Information Division Media Contacts
Kemal Saïki, Director; saiki@un.org; tel.: +249 (0) 92 244 3529; mobile: +249 (0) 92 241 0020

Mayada Umbadda, Media Relations, umbadda@un.org, mobile: +249 (0)91 250 1966