UN ‘racism’ expert visits TT and Guyana

SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Doudou Diene, will visit Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana at the invitation of the governments of both countries from July 14 to 26. According to a release from the UN Information Centre for the Caribbean area yesterday, Diene will seek to understand the origins of ethnic tensions that have recently affected the political and social fabric of both countries. He will also learn about the policies and measures of both governments “aimed at guaranteeing the rights of equality and non-discrimination of citizens from culturally diverse backgrounds.”  During his visit, Diene will meet with government officials in Port-of-Spain and Georgetown as well as members of the international community. Diene will also hold consultations with members of the judiciary, the media and non-governmental organisations in both countries.

The UN Information Centre indicated that Diene’s visit “should further contribute to strengthening current efforts by the UN aimed at supporting the building of social cohesion in Guyana in particular.” Diene will submit his findings to the 16th session of the Commission on Human Rights in March 2004. After July 26, Diene is scheduled to visit Canada, Colombia and the Ivory Coast. Diene is a former UNESCO Director of the Department of Intercultural Dialogue and Pluralism for a Culture of Peace and was appointed to his current post on April 25, 2002.