ROME: The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, will visit Italy from September 30 through October 8 as part of his yearlong study on the management of the external borders of the European Union, which has already taken him to key EU border countries including Tunisia and Turkey earlier this year. “Given its strategic position in the Mediterranean, with its long coastline, and proximity to North Africa, Italy has become a key point of entry for many migrants seeking to reach Europe," Crépeau said. During his nine-day mission to Italy, the human rights expert will meet with a range of government officials responsible for border control and migration, international organizations, migrants organizations, and migrants themselves, to discuss the complex management of the Italian border. The UN Human Rights Council's envoy will also visit a number of migrant detention centers. Crépeau's visit to Italy is the fourth stage in his study on the management of the EU external borders. He visited Brussels in May, and Tunisia and Turkey earlier in in June. Later in the year, in November, he will also visit Greece. The study, launched by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, will result in a special thematic report which will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2013.
