The United Nation's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, is on her first official mission to Cameroon. The visit that started with her arrival on June 30, 2013, saw real business starting at the Ministry of External Relations (Minrex) on Monday June 1, 2013 where she held talks with Minister of External Relations, Prof. Pierre Moukouko Mbonjo. The 72-year-old South African is in Cameroon on the invitation of the government.
Speaking to the press after the audience, Navi Pillay disclosed that she came to assure government of the readiness of her Yaounde regional office and the UN Country Team to assist Cameroon implement recommendations that were reached recently in Geneva at the Universal Periodic Review before the Human Right's Council. "Other States made recommendations to Cameroon and I was very interested to hear the Minister's impression about the meeting," she said. Regarding her mission in Cameroon, visiting Navi Pillay said "the Minister was very open with me in matters of concern that I raised with him."
She was expected to hold talks with the diplomatic corps, civil society organisations, the Chairman and members of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms and finally with the Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals. Several high level meetings are lined up according to her schedule before meeting the press today June 2, 2013 ahead of her departure later in the evening.
Navy Pillay is in Cameroon to encourage the country move beyond the ratification of international and regional human rights instruments towards the implementation of its international commitments and of the recommendations of human rights mechanisms. She is also out to call for the promotion of women's rights as well as for the protection of human rights defenders, journalists, judges, lawyers among others. Navy Pillay is also trying to underscore the need to better protect economic, social and cultural rights, including increased transparency and accountability in governance.
