Head of national human rights commission named

Justin Koumba, who served as president of the Republic of Congo's National Transition Council, was on Wednesday named president of the country's national human rights commission. The commission was stipulated by the country's new constitution, which was approved by referendum in January 2002 and became effective in August 2002 at the end of a five-year transition period following years of civil war. Included in the national commission's mandate will be country-wide human rights education efforts for all levels of society; support for human rights research; promotion of human rights understanding among elected officials and police authorities; and provision of a forum for dialogue among all public and private actors interested in human rights. The commission is also charged with producing human rights reports, supplying these reports to government authorities, and maintaining relations with regional and international organisations. It is to be financed by both state funds and contributions from international donors. The commission comprises "full" and "associate" members from human rights NGOs, other civil society organisations, and professional associations and public institutions. Members of the commission are named by presidential decree, with a three-year renewable mandate. The commission will be led by a president, two vice-presidents, an administrative/financial officer, and a rapporteur.