(24 March 2011) Today’s Human Rights Council (HRC) decision to establish a UN special mechanism on human rights in Iran is an important step forward to address the human rights crisis and a victory for the Iranian people, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said.
Although the Iranian government has tried to lead an anti-human rights bloc at the UN, this vote is a repudiation of Iran’s efforts to hide behind cultural relativism as an excuse to subjugate citizens, the Campaign said. The vote showed “that the international community sees through Iran’s transparent lies about its brutal practices.”
The move followed two years of intense efforts by human rights advocates, as the HRC voted overwhelmingly on a resolution establishing a Special Rapporteur.
The resolution received an absolute majority of 22 votes in favor, versus only 7 against, and 14 abstentions. Of particular importance were the votes of Brazil, Senegal, and South Korea in favor of the resolution.
A wide spectrum of Iranian activists welcomed the resolution.
“This is a strong message of support to the Iranian people from the international community that they are not forgotten, and gross violations of their rights will not be tolerated,” said Shirin Ebadi, the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
In the Resolution establishing the mechanism, the HRC regretted Iran’s “lack of cooperation with the requests of the General Assembly” made in De… >>>
