Iran Fully Committed to Promoting Human Rights
November 12, 1998 - 0:0
UNITED NATIONS, New York A member of the Iranian UN mission said the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully committed to the strengthening of human rights not for political considerations but for being inspired by sublime teachings of Islam. Iranian Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Iran's UN Mission in Geneva Bozorgmehr Ziyaran raised the issue at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. The Tuesday session of the committee which focused on social, humanitarian and cultural topics, dealt with the study of reports presented by the special UN human rights rapporteurs.
Commenting on the points raised in the report compiled by the UN Special Rapproteur Maurice Capithorne on human rights situation in Iran, Ziyaran criticized the mechanisms deployed by various UN human rights offices. He regretted that the topic of human rights and various mechanisms deployed in this connection are greatly influenced by economic and political interests of a certain minority. Ziyaran argued whether the issue of human rights should fall within the monopoly of countries which claim to be human rights champions but exploit the monitoring system for the sake of their long-term interests.
Rejecting such a mechanism, he stressed that the system should be changed, adding that the method not only will prove futile but will also threaten credibility of the monitoring system. ``By no means I claim that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been able to fully implement sublime teachings of Islam in the field of human rights. But, what I stress is that important positive changes have taken place and, above all, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to take further steps in strengthening and protection of human rights,'' said the Iranian envoy.
Ziyaran said that since the past year great strides have been taken in Iran for strengthening of democratic institutions, further encouragement of political and civil participation, consolidation of rule of law and women's rights as well as national mechanisms for protection and promotion of human rights and basic freedoms, especially freedom of expression. Pointing to the resolution of the European Union on status of human rights in Iran which has been prepared for presentation to the UN General Assembly, he said that in view of the Islamic Republic of Iran, human rights situation in Iran does not require international supervision.
``We have told the initiators of the resolution that we are ready to reach a consensus. We have stressed on determination of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the strengthening of human rights and have elaborated in details our programs in this connection. We have also announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran will fully cooperate with human rights mechanisms,'' Ziyaran said in conclusion.
(IRNA)
Commenting on the points raised in the report compiled by the UN Special Rapproteur Maurice Capithorne on human rights situation in Iran, Ziyaran criticized the mechanisms deployed by various UN human rights offices. He regretted that the topic of human rights and various mechanisms deployed in this connection are greatly influenced by economic and political interests of a certain minority. Ziyaran argued whether the issue of human rights should fall within the monopoly of countries which claim to be human rights champions but exploit the monitoring system for the sake of their long-term interests.
Rejecting such a mechanism, he stressed that the system should be changed, adding that the method not only will prove futile but will also threaten credibility of the monitoring system. ``By no means I claim that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been able to fully implement sublime teachings of Islam in the field of human rights. But, what I stress is that important positive changes have taken place and, above all, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to take further steps in strengthening and protection of human rights,'' said the Iranian envoy.
Ziyaran said that since the past year great strides have been taken in Iran for strengthening of democratic institutions, further encouragement of political and civil participation, consolidation of rule of law and women's rights as well as national mechanisms for protection and promotion of human rights and basic freedoms, especially freedom of expression. Pointing to the resolution of the European Union on status of human rights in Iran which has been prepared for presentation to the UN General Assembly, he said that in view of the Islamic Republic of Iran, human rights situation in Iran does not require international supervision.
``We have told the initiators of the resolution that we are ready to reach a consensus. We have stressed on determination of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the strengthening of human rights and have elaborated in details our programs in this connection. We have also announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran will fully cooperate with human rights mechanisms,'' Ziyaran said in conclusion.
(IRNA)