For the first time, the UN will enter Guantanamo prison

Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism.

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1 min

A human rights expert is expected in the coming days at the US military base.

A " 

technical visit

 " at the invitation of Washington, which has pledged to close the prison.

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With our correspondent in Geneva,

Jérémie Lanche

It is one of the most controversial prisons in the world.

As much associated with the war against terrorism as with its excesses.

Guantanamo prison, a US military site on the island of Cuba.

We do not know the exact program of Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, nor this UN special rapporteur on human rights and the fight against terrorism will be able to talk to the thirty people still detained in Guantanamo.

During her mission, from February 6 to 14, the Irishwoman should on the other hand speak with former prisoners, released after years of degrading treatment and even torture.

Along with other UN experts, she had also described the prison as a " 

stain 

" on the United States' commitment to the rule of law.

The expert will issue a statement, including conclusions and recommendations, at the end of the visit.

On March 15, 2022, she announced that she had received a preliminary invitation from Washington to organize a technical visit.

Joe Biden wants to close the prison before the end of his term, like one of his predecessors, Barack Obama, of whom he was vice-president and who has never succeeded in eight years.

The current Democratic tenant of the White House is also slow to fulfill his promise.

The releases are currently being done in dribs and drabs, the last date being a few days ago.

A former Pakistani Al-Qaeda informant, detained for almost twenty years, arrived last Thursday in Belize, one of the only countries that has agreed to welcome him. 

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