BACKGROUND:  Congressman Christopher Smith, Chairman of the Committee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations will travel to New York on Monday for a day of meetings at the United Nations.  Smith’s Committee has Congressional jurisdiction over the U.N.

Throughout the course of the day, Smith will discuss a variety of issues with: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton; U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan; UNICEF head Ann Veneman; Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez, U.N. Human Rights Council Co-Chairman; and Jane Holl Lute, Assistant Secretary-General for Mission Support in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Smith’s multi-purpose visit will primarily focus on U.N. reform – particularly on human rights issues – and sexual exploitation and abuses by U.N. peacekeepers.  Earlier this year Smith held hearings about the gross sexual misconduct and exploitation of refugees by U.N. peacekeepers and civilian personnel assigned to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In recent years, the U.N. has struggled to deal with similar allegations in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 

WHO:  Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Chairman – Committee on Africa,
              Global Human Rights and International Operations.

WHAT: Will visit the United Nations for a day of meetings and conduct a meeting
               briefing afterward. 

WHEN: Monday, October 24, 2005
               TBD Time

WHERE: United Nations
                 New York City, NY
                 U.N. Stakeout