PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO BRAZIL

Brasilia - - The President of the Human Rights Council, Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi (Nigeria), kicked off an official visit to Brazil on 27 April by meeting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the Amazon city of Manaus.

The visit of the Council President, which is taking place at the invitation of the Government of Brazil, will last from 27 to 29 April and includes stops to Brasilia, Manaus, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador.

During his meeting with President Lula, Ambassador Uhomoibhi thanked him for the important steps taken by Brazil in advancing human rights domestically and internationally, particularly through its prominent role in the Human Rights Council, and as one of the chief architects of the Universal Periodic Review. While underscoring the important role played by Brazil in building partnerships with other countries, particularly with African nations, the President of the Council stressed the importance of building bridges and enhancing dialogue in the Human Rights Council.

“Brazil has a lot of experience to share, as exemplified by its fight against poverty and extreme hunger, combating HIV/AIDS and enhancing South-South cooperation in human rights”, Ambassador Uhomoibhi stated.

The Ambassador also extended a formal invitation to President Lula to attend the upcoming session of the Human Rights Council in June.

For his part, President Lula expressed his Government’s commitment to continue to work closely with the Council and shared information on various human rights projects and priorities of Brazil.

While in Manaus, Ambassador Uhomoibhi also accompanied President Lula on a visit to a lepers’ colony where they saw first-hand the effects of this crippling disease and the need to overcome social stigmas and discrimination. Earlier in the day, the President of the Council attended a ceremony to witness the signing of an agreement by local governors to address the problem of low birth registration rates in the Amazon region, a first step towards establishing a unified system of registration in the country.

The Council President also met today with several government officials who briefed him on the human rights situation in the country on a wide range of issues. These officials included the Minister for Human Rights, Paulo Vannucchi, and representatives of the Ministries of Education, Health, Environment, Agrarian Development and the office of the National Justice Counselor.

On Tuesday, the Council President will travel to Rio de Janeiro where he will meet with the Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral Filho, after which he will go to Rio’s biggest shanty town – the Favela da Maré – where he will visit social projects run by the local non-governmental organization Viva Rio. On this occasion, he also will meet other representatives of Brazilian civil society.

Later in the day, he will travel to Bahia’s capital Salvador where he will hold meetings with local government officials, followed by a visit the “House of Nigeria” and the “House of Olodum” to meet leaders in the Afro-Brazilian community.