Chair of the Independent Afghanistan Human Rights Commission Sima Samar to Finland
Press release 83/2006
30 March, 2006
Chair of the Independent Afghanistan Human Rights Commission Sima Samar will visit Finland as guest of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' campaign Asia! on 3-7 April.
In 2001-2002 Samar acted as deputy premier of Afghanistan and as leader of the ministry she established to handle women's affairs. Several international human rights and women's organisations have awarded Samar for the work she has been doing to promote the status of Afghan women. In 2005 Samar was also appointed UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Sudan.
Sima Samar will come to Finland in order to participate in a seminar organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Human Rights Institute of Åbo Akademi to be held at Åbo Akademi, Auditorium Armfelt, Arken, at the address Tehtaankatu 2, Turku on Wednesday 5 April at 12.30-16.30.
In addition to Dr. Samar, the speakers will include Jehan Perera, Director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, Martin Scheinin, UN Special Rapporteur on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism, Tarja Laitiainen, former Finnish Ambassador to Afghanistan, and Minister Elisabeth Rehn, who has acted as UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights. The panel will be chaired by Helsingin Sanomat journalist Kaius Niemi.
During her visit to Finland, Sima Samar will also meet Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and, on Thursday 6 April at 13.00-14.00, she will be speaking to the public at an event to be held at the public information corner of the Annex of the Finnish Parliament Building.
You can sign up for the seminar in Turku by 3 April by contacting Sanna Leminen, [email protected], tel. 358 9 1605 6029. The seminar programme is available at the address www.aasiaan.fi(Link to another website.)
Additional information and interview requests: Coordinator of the Asia! campaign Jenni Tuominen, [email protected], tel. +358 40 8475 089
Ministry for Foreign Affairs Development Cooperation(Link to another website.)