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Human Rights Commission approves providing technical services to troubled countries

Human Rights Commission approves providing technical services to troubled countries

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, in an effort to strengthen human rights observance worldwide, has approved the provision of advisory services and technical cooperation to several countries.

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, in an effort to strengthen human rights observance worldwide, has approved the provision of advisory services and technical cooperation to several countries.

In a series of chairman’s statements and resolutions yesterday the Commission agreed to assist countries that have recently experienced violence or are still combating insurgencies, such as Afghanistan, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Haiti, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Liberia, Somalia and Sierra Leone.

The Chairman’s statement on Afghanistan expressed concern over the continuing incidence of violence against women and girls and recommended that Secretary-General Kofi Annan extend the mandate of the Independent Expert on Afghan human rights for another year.

It also recommended appointing or extending the mandates of Independent Experts to help governments and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) with human rights problems in Burundi, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia.