HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WELCOMES IRAN’S INTENTION TO EXTEND OPEN INVITATION TO RIGHTS EXPERTS

25 July 2002



United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson has welcomed the indication by the Government of Iran of its willingness to extend an open invitation to special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights working on thematic mandates. Iran would be the thirty-ninth country to issue such an invitation.

Speaking after a 24 July meeting with the Iranian Permanent Representative in Geneva, Mohammad Reza Alborzi, during which a future technical cooperation programme between Iran and her Office was discussed, Mrs. Robinson said she hoped the Government’s move would pave the way for a process of long-term cooperation between Iranian authorities and the Commission. “Visits by the Commission’s Special Rapporteurs and working groups could be very effective in improving the protection and promotion of human rights in a given country”, she added.

Mrs. Robinson said she would encourage the Commission’s mandate holders to enter into direct discussions with the Iranian Government to plan their visits.