GENEVA (26 November 2021) – The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while counter-terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, will visit Uzbekistan from 29 November to 7 December 2021 to assess the impact of counter-terrorism practices and laws in human rights. During her visit, the independent human rights expert is scheduled to meet Government representatives, law enforcement officials, members of parliament, policy specialists and the Ombudsperson. She will also meet UN entities and other international organizations present in Uzbekistan. Ní Aoláin will also visit detention centres to interview people suspected or convicted of terrorism related activities and extremist crimes. The visit of the human rights expert will also include a component on repatriations, including the identification of good practices in the return, rehabilitation and reintegration of foreign fighters, and women and children with alleged links to ISIS. The expert will share her preliminary observations with the media during a press conference on Tuesday, 7 December at 3 pm at the UN building (4 Shevchenko street). Copies of her end-of-mission statement and press release will be available in Uzbek, Russian and English. Access to the press conference is limited to journalists. The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report with her findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2022. ENDS