12814: OAS-SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION TO VISIT HAITI -August 23, 2002 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Stanley  Lucas <slucas@iri.org>

SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION TO VISIT HAITI

The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS), Eduardo A. Bertoni, is to visit Haiti on August 26 to 28, 2002, in the context of the IACHR visit and at the invitation of the Haitian government.

During his visit, the Special Rapporteur will meet with Haitian government officials, media figures, independent journalists, and civil society organizations, in order to gather information on the state of freedom of expression in that country.

The Office of the Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression is a permanent office with operational independence and its own budget.  It was created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights within the scope of the Commission's authority and powers and it operates in accordance with that legal framework.  The Office of the Rapporteur arose from the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Americas, which was held in Santiago, Chile, in April 1998.

Eduardo A. Bertoni
Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression
Washington, D.C.
August 23, 2002