25th March 2011, Geneva;A UN resolution tabled by a cross-regional group containing the Maldives, the United States, Zambia and Sweden, on the subject of the human rights situation in Iran, was adopted today by the Human Rights Council at its 16th regular session in Geneva. The Resolution expresses concern at the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran and mandates the establishment of a UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur.
The Council's decision follows a significant worsening of the human rights situation in the country following the disputed 2009 Iranian presidential election. This has included the suppression of freedom of expression including by ejecting international media and NGOs, a sharp increase in extrajudicial detentions and allegations of torture, crack-downs against the freedom to protest, and a major spike in the number of executions, including of political prisoners.
The Council was also guided by Iran's unwillingness to cooperate fully with international human rights mechanisms, especially thematic Special Procedures such as the Special Rapporteurs on Torture and on Freedom of Expression.
The Special Rapporteur, when appointed, will be responsible for gathering information on human rights abuses, including the whereabouts and status of those detained by the authorities, and for pressing the Iranian authorities to enact meaningful democratic reforms and to strengthen human rights safeguards. He or she will report annually to the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly.
ENDS