Tunis — The UN High Commissionership for Human Rights (HCHR) "is following up with concern the situation of human rights and public liberties in the country," reads a communiqué of HCHR office in Tunis released on Monday.

At the opening of the 21st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, High Commissioner Navi Pillay stressed the need to take the necessary measures to "develop Tunisia's gains in matters of equality and non-discrimination with regard to women both in law and in practice," says the communiqué.

She also urged the Tunisian government to seize the opportunity to make progress in matters of human rights and women's rights in Tunisia.

"The freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful assembly are fundamental rights among human rights and must be preserved," says the HCHR, urging to "put an end to any incitement to violence against journalists, artists and intellectuals."

The calls by a number of people to attack journalists, artists and intellectuals are inconsistent with the legal guarantees provided by international agreements and conventions, says the HCHR Tunis office which reaffirms will to keep on supporting the efforts of the authorities and civil society to secure a democratic transition and the promotion and protection of human rights.