PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL APPOINTS CHRISTINE CHINKIN TO SERVE ON HIGH-LEVEL FACT-FINDING MISSION TO BEIT HANOUN

The President of the Human Rights Council, Luis Alfonso De Alba, has appointed Christine Chinkin of the United Kingdom as a member of the high-level fact-finding mission established by the Council at its special session of 15 November in connection with the Israeli military operations in Beit Hanoun (northern Gaza Strip) on 8 November resulting in the deaths of at least 18 civilians.

Ms. Chinkin will join Desmond Mpilo Tutu, former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and recipient of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, whose appointment to lead the mission was announced last week. The two hope to depart for the region this weekend to carry out their mission, which includes, among other things, to assess the situation of victims, address the needs of survivors, and make recommendations on ways and means to protect Palestinian civilians against further Israeli assaults.

Currently a professor of international law at the London School of Economics and a faculty member of the University of Michigan Law School, Ms. Chinkin has devoted much of her distinguished career to the law of treaties and human rights, with a particular emphasis on the protection of women's rights and international dispute resolution. Among other tasks, she has served as a consultant to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on human trafficking.

The high-level fact-finding mission was established by resolution S-3/1 adopted at the third special session of the Human Rights Council called for last month following the events in Beit Hanoun. As mandated by this resolution, the fact-finding mission is to report on its progress to the Council no later than the middle of December 2006.