Brazilian to Replace Robinson in UN Human Rights Commission

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 23, 2002

Brazilian to Replace Robinson in UN Human Rights Commission

Brazilian Sergio Vieira de Mello on Monday was recommended by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

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Brazilian Sergio Vieira de Mello on Monday was recommended by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The appointment will be subject to the General Assembly's approval on Tuesday, according to reports sent from New York, where the UN is headquartered.

If the appointment is approved, Vieira de Mello will replace Mary Robinson as the head of the UN human rights protection body.

Vieira de Mello, 54, who has been working in the UN since 1969,headed the United Nations action that led to the independence of East Timor from Indonesia.

Prior to that action, Vieira de Mello was the acting leader of the UN mission to Kosovo and was Undersecretary-General for humanitarian affairs of the United Nations. He has made most of his career at the UN High Commission for Refugees in Geneva.

Mary Robinson, a former Irish president who has held the job since 1997, resigned as High Commissioner for Human Rights last September.

Russia and the United States are among the nations condemned by Robinson in her term for their history of human rights violations.

The post of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, whose job isto facilitate advising on the issue to member countries, was created in 1994 and the first one occupying it was Ecuadorian Jose Ayala Lasso, who was succeeded by Robinson.

Other candidates to succeed Robinson are former Polish dissident Bronislaw Geremek; former Philippine President Corazon Aquino and former Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan.

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