[women-rights] UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women to visit Algeria

UNITED NATIONS Press release
17 January 2007

Yakin Ertürk, the United Nations Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur
on violence against women, its causes and consequences, will conduct a
fact-finding mission to Algeria from 22 January to 1 February 2007.

The Special Rapporteur has scheduled visits to Algiers, Constantine and
Oran, as well as other cities in the country. The mission will focus on
all forms of violence against women prevalent in Algeria and on the
State's response to such violence.

During the visit, the Special Rapporteur will meet with representatives of
the Government, non-governmental organizations, United Nations officials
and victims of gender-based violence.

After the visit, Ms. Ertürk is set to present a report containing her
findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council.

Ms. Ertürk, Professor of Sociology at Middle East Technical University in
Ankara, Turkey, was appointed Special Rapporteur in 2003.