On Thursday 14th July 2011, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, will open an UN human rights office in Tunisia in the presence of the current Prime Minister Béji Caïd Essebsi. It is the first time that the OHCHR establishes an office in a Mediterranean North African country.

Mrs. Pillay also announced she is planning to open another office in the Maghreb region, namely in Cairo city.

The High Commissioner expressed its strong engagement in sustaining Tunisia in its transitional process towards democracy and pointed out the several positive developments in the human rights field carried out by the new Government, such as the ratification of key international human rights treaties, the preparations for elections, and the establishment of major fundamental freedoms.