UNITED NATIONS Press Release

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UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TO VISIT ALGERIA

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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.