“Now comes the time to focus on human rights in Iran,” UN
expert welcomes opportunity created by nuclear deal
GENEVA (15 July 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur
Ahmed Shaheed today called on the
Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the international community to
seize the opportunity created by the agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme to
address the human rights situation in the country.
Mr. Shaheed congratulated all parties to the negotiation
for reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, and noted that the
lifting of economic sanctions will have a beneficial multiplier effect on the
human rights situation in the country, especially on the enjoyment of economic,
social and cultural rights. “Peace, development and human rights are deeply
interlinked,” he stressed.
Since 2012, the expert has been warning about the
apparent ineffectiveness of humanitarian safeguards against the impact of
economic sanctions on the country’s human rights situation in his reports* to
the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. The reports outline Iran’
s increasing economic hardships and point to staggering inflation, among other
issues, as cause for serious concern about protections for the rights to food
and health in the country.
“Economic sanctions have directly or indirectly affected
all sectors of the country,” Mr. Shaheed remarked. “They appear to have
contributed to the conditions of austerity including the rising costs of basic
commodities, and have seemingly impacted access to medicines, and medical
supplies. These circumstances have had a dramatic effect on the standard of
living and likely further undermined the full enjoyment of a range of civil,
social and economic rights. ”
“It is my sincere hope that the successful conclusion of
the nuclear talks, which will enable the lifting of economic sanctions, will
allow President Hassan Rouhani to focus on his other campaign pledges,
specifically those to promote the enjoyment of all human rights by the Iranian
people,” Mr. Shaheed said.
The Special Rapporteur urged the Government of Iran to
spare no effort in addressing long-standing human rights concerns repeatedly
raised by the UN human rights mechanisms, especially the alarming surge in
executions this past year, increasing restrictions on freedom of expression and
peaceful assemblies, women’s rights, discrimination against religious and
ethnic minorities, and the ongoing prosecution of journalists, lawyers and
human rights defenders.
Mr. Shaheed renewed his call on the Iranian authorities
to engage constructively and meaningfully with his mandate by allowing a visit
to the country, and reiterated his desire to work with the Iranian officials to
address human rights challenges in Iran.
(*) Check all the Special Rapporteur’s reports:
http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=183
ENDS
Ahmed Shaheed (the Maldives) is a Visiting Professor at
Essex University, UK; a former member of the Maldivian presidential Commission
Investigating Corruption; and a foreign policy advisor to the President of the
Maldives. Mr. Shaheed was Foreign Minister of the Maldives from 2005 to 2007
and from 2008 to 2010. He led the country’s efforts to sign and ratify all nine
international human rights Conventions and to implement them in law and
practice. He was appointed as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in Iran in June 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council. Learn more, visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/IRIndex.aspx
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights, Country Page – Iran:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/IRIndex.aspx
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