UN expert on internally displaced persons to visit Philippines

The United Nations announced today that Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Representative on Internally Displaced Persons will visit the Philippines later this week.

Travelling at the Government’s invitation, Francis M. Deng will be in the country from 6 to 13 November with a view to better understanding the situation of internal displacement in the Philippines through dialogue with the Government, civil society, the UN team and other international partners.

The visit is also considered a good opportunity to explore how to enhance national and international responses to the plight of the internally displaced.

While in the country, Mr. Deng is expected to visit several communities of internally displaced people in Mindanao, where he will also meet with regional and local authorities as well as groups directly assisting the population affected by displacement.

Mr. Deng’s programme will include meetings with senior government officials, regional and local authorities, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, representatives of humanitarian, human rights and development non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and representatives of the international community.