The Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, will present his fourth and latest report to the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in an interactive dialogue this morning at 12pm local time in Geneva, Switzerland.
In his latest report, Dr Shaheed expresses concern that as the Islamic Republic of Iran prepares to accept a second round of Universal Period Review (UPR) recommendations, it has failed to satisfactorily implement those it pledged to do so during the first round in 2010.
In particular, the report raises concerns about the on-going extraordinarily high rate of executions in the country, the situations of women and of religious and ethnic minority groups, including the Baha’is, and the authorities’ restrictions on civil and political activists from exercising internationally recognized human rights.
Dr Ahmed Shaheed has occupied the position of Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran since June 2011.
In anticipation of the report’s presentation to the UNHCR, 36 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) came together last week to urge UNHRC member states to support the resolution to renew the Special Rapporteur’s mandate on the human rights situation in Iran.
Representatives from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and many others, signed a letter calling attention to the Rapporteur’s concerns about Iran and the invaluable work he does in securing the release of activists, lawyers and other prisoners of conscience.
Watch the live event here.
Interested in writing for IranWire?
Share your stories.
comments