UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN SITTING IN GENEVA

GENEVA, March 22 (Hina) - The United Nations should take active part in the protection of human rights throughout the world, and particularly in prevention of their violations, said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, during the introductory speech of the 55th session of the UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva on Monday. As of 22 March until 30 April the Commission will be considering the situation of human rights and basic freedoms in the world. It will, in particular, discuss breaches of human rights in occupied Arab areas and the situations in countries monitored by the Commission such as Cyprus, Congo, Iran, Iraq, Rwanda, Burundi and countries in the area of the former Yugoslavia. During this session, Croatia will be presented by its Foreign Minister Mate Granic, who arrived in Geneva on Monday. In his address to the Commission, Granic will try to deny recently frequent assessments of the international community about Croatia's poor human rights record. He will deliver his report on Tuesday and is expected to speak of the return of refugees, the electoral law, the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and the freedom of the media, on which major unfavourable remarks have been focused. Jiri Dienstbier, a special UN human rights rapporteur for Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro), is also to give a report on the human rights situation in Croatia to the Commission. (hina) rm/ms