UN torture rapporteur visits Tunisia
2011-05-16 14:34
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Tunis - The UN rapporteur on torture kicked off on Monday a mission in Tunisia to help the government set up after the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, establish rule of law and ensure justice for past abuses.
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez arrived late on Sunday for a first mission under the transitional government, a United Nations official said.
"Mr Mendez should today meet in Tunis with representatives of non-governmental organisations, the civil society and political parties," the official told AFP.
The week-long trip is the first official visit by an independent UN human rights expert since the ouster on January 14 of authoritarian Ben Ali, who ruled the north African country for 23 years before a popular uprising.
After his removal, political prisoners claimed torture and bad treatment during long periods in jail under the toppled regime.
Mendez will meet victims of torture and their families, government officials, parliamentarians, judicial figures, leaders of civil society and people in the media.
His will also visit local branches of UN agencies and international organisations.
"The new authorities have taken a number of steps towards ensuring accountability and long-term reforms," Mendez said in Geneva last week.
He said he wanted to help Tunisia's interim rulers "establish the rule of law, fulfill the rights to reparations for victims of torture and ill-treatment".
This included to "promote accountability for past abuses and allegations of torture and ill-treatment, and ensure that alleged perpetrators are held responsible in conformity with international law", he said.
In February a UN human rights mission urged Tunisia to investigate and prosecute allegations of violations carried out by Ben Ali's security forces during the uprising, when scores of people were killed.
