Washington invites UN human rights expert to Guantanamo

A UN human rights expert announced on Tuesday March 15 that she had received a "

" from Washington to visit the Guantanamo camp, which would be a first after two decades of requests.

Read alsoTwenty years later, the insoluble puzzle of Guantanamo

Independent UN human rights experts have sought access to the military prison in southeastern Cuba since it opened in 2002 to detainees from the US-led '

'. United.

“

,” said Fionnuala Ni Aolain, Special Rapporteur on Advancement and the protection of human rights while countering terrorism, at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Fionnuala Ni Aolain highlighted the situation of prisoners who remained behind bars, which "

".

The prison, which had up to 800 inmates, now holds 38 men, some of whom arrived within the first few months of its opening.

"

," she said.

She recalled that the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture had “

”.

Fundamental rights

“

,” she added.

“

.”

Those transferred out of Guantanamo "

."

While lamenting the situation, Fionnuala Ni Aolain hailed the invitation as a "

".

Read alsoTwo former French Guantanamo detainees seize the ECHR

She clarified that a preliminary invitation meant the parameters of the visit were still being discussed.

“

,” she said.

"

."

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