Azerbaijan, Baku, August 4 /Trend/
The new United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, appealed to the Iranian government to extend its full co-operation with his mandate as required by the UN Human Rights Council, the official statement of Iran Human Rights reads.
"It is my hope that the Iranian authorities will view my mandate as a secure and legitimate space in which to take steps to comply with its international human rights obligations, as well as an opportunity to address the areas of concern communicated to Iran during its interactions with the international community on human rights issues," Shaheed said on the first day of his mandate.
On June 17, the UN Council on Human Rights appointed former Maldivian Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed to the position of UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
A resolution to appoint a special rapporteur to assess Iran's human rights situation was adopted at the 16th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 24.
About 22 representatives of 47 Council members voted for the resolution: 7 - against, 14 abstained. Among the abstaining states were Russia, Pakistan and China. The members of the Human Rights Council called on Tehran to fully cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to allow him entrance into the country.
In response, the Iranian delegation strongly rejected the appointment, accusing a number of member-states of using the UN Human Rights Council for political purposes against Iran.
The former Foreign Minister of the Maldives also underscored his firm belief that the establishment of the new mandate "provides an opportunity for Iran to engage on a range of human rights issues that have been raised by the international community."
"I issued a written communication to the Iranian authorities to introduce myself and express my interest in visiting the country," Shaheed said. "My first report shall be submitted to the sixty-sixth session of General Assembly, and I have sought meetings with the Iranian Ambassador to the UN Offices in Geneva ahead of that date to discuss a platform for cooperation in the months ahead."
Late June, Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that Iran does not allow the UN special reporter on human right issues to arrive in Iran as appointment of the UN Human Rights Envoy for Iran is unacceptable
Then, the Head of Iran's judiciary system Sadiq Larijani said that cooperation between Iran and the UN is used against Iran.
According to the statement, the Special Rapporteur is seeking cooperation of the Iranian authorities in the interest of fair and accurate reporting on its human rights situation, and developing constructive engagement between Iran and the UN human rights machinery.
Shaheed will also work closely with Iranian civil society and human rights defenders, in accordance with the code of conduct for Special Procedure mandate holders.
"Every effort shall be made to demonstrate both the steps that the Iranian authorities can take to comply with Iran's international obligations, as well as to draw attention to the grievances of those who feel victimized by alleged human rights violations," Shaheed stressed.
The Human Rights Council founded in 2006 as part of the United Nations replaces the Commission on Human Rights. The council members are UN members, elected by the General Assembly.
The Human Rights Council may establish and abolish the so-called special procedures of rapporteurs, experts, and working groups which focus on specific human rights issues, (for example the Special Rapporteur on torture and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions), or Human Rights in a certain area (for 2010 - Burundi, Cambodia, North Korea, Haiti, Myanmar, Palestinian Territories, Somalia and Sudan).
Special rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Secretary-General. After receiving their mandate, the rapporteurs act independently of the state.