United Nations A / 6 0 / 7 7 0 1 ~ d di . Distr.: General 15 May 2006 Original: English General Assembly Sixtieth session Agenda item 112 (e) Elections to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other elections: election of 47 members of the Human Rights Council Note verbale dated 8 May 2006 from the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations presents its compliments to the Secretariat of the United Nations and has the honour to enclose the Islamic Republic of Iran's voluntary pledges and commitments in accordance with General Assembly resolution 601251 of 15 March 2005 entitled "Human Rights Council" and under agenda item 112 (e), 06-34957 (E) 200606 I 111111 II11 1111111 I 11 11 111 II ! Annex to the note verbale dated 8 May 2006 from the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat The Islamic Republic of Iran's pledges and commitments on human rights The blanric Hepublic o Lran, as a Ymndlhg member o rhe Unfrcd f f Nullons and a party to the major Inrernan'onai .Humah Righa I t r ( ~ c m t n ~baed on prindples anshrined In ics (:onsrtrution and i n 9 1 s, compJfance with its l n ~ e m t i o mcornrnfnnenb has conrinuo~crly rhs l put pear eforts inu, safigrtaiding (he sranrs cznd ihherert dignig ofhuman person as we4 US prornoI10n and prolec(ion of human righfs ahd findamenral f i e d o h . h e s e larger-odeh~ed eforts ahd policies enrail, inreralla, measures designad l ovefcorne obslacles and d~flctrllieshindering the f i l l a ~ d o effective enjoytnenl o all human righu at national a d fnfernarlonal f leveI. s The l ~ l a m i cRepublic of Iran i rherefore finnt'y dc~emlnadand s prepared to maximcrtIy uliltre f porvlliuis and capaclricx IncIucLing l a u membership ro the newly esrabllshed Human Righu Comcil for achiedng ihe noble and common objccfivuof tnrernrrriond cornmunip in fhisdomain. ''1) hternntional Contribution, pledges and Commitments - - lnremtional Convention asainst Apartheid in Sport: - Supplementary Convention on the Abolition List o t International Human rights Instruments a) the list of htcrnationd Human rights Instruments ro which the Islamic Republic of Iran Is a pany: International Covenant on Civil and Poliucal Ripbts; Xnrcmauod C o v w r on Economic, Social and Cultural Rigba; International Convention on rhe Elimination of A11 Forms of Racial Discrimination: Convcntioa on the Rights of the Child; Convention on the Prevention aod funisbent of the Crime of Genocide; International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment *of the Crime o f Apartheid; I. 1. - of.Slavery, the Slave h d e , and institutions and Practices Similar to Slavory; Convention relating to the Status of Refugees; - L O no, 1 82 1 ~ o n v e n t i o n ' ' ~ ~ then Prohibidon and lmmedintc o c~~ ~cdon'for E i i a i n of t)le Worst Forms of Child Labor; &e l m n t o - Protocol relating to the S W ~ S Refugees; of , Wemen; - Convtna'on asaiast Torture and other Cruel, l n h m or Dograding Treatxncnt and Punishment; Optiond Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Chfld on the Sale of Childrm, Child Pmstitution and Child Pornography; b) T h e Islamic Republic of Iran i also considcting accession to the s following Intornldonal Human Rights hsmunancs: Convention on the Eliminstion of AU Forms of Discrimination a g h n - G) Islamic Republic of Iran is reconsidering its reservation to the Convcntion on the Rights of the Child; 1.2. Cooperation tvith.Specid Procedures: a) Cooperation emended to the special procedures: Islamic Republic of Iran has extended continuous and full cooperation to the rhea Center for Human Rights and tbe Office ofthe Hi& Comrnissionu for Hurnm Rights (OHCHR). TO this end, a general standing invitation has been forwarded to all thematio Rapporteurs, Working Groups as well as' Independent Expms of the Commirsioa on Human Rights Accordingly Special Rapponeus on Freedom of opinion and expression, Rights of Migrants, Violence against Women, Right to Adequate Housing as well as Working Group on Arbitrary Detention visited the Islamic Rapublio of Inn. It m worth mentioning that prior to the exteaion of gencral sanding invitation; N O visits o f previous Special Rapponcur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion to Iran were ficilieated. In addition r abovementioned visits, lslamic Repub 'c of Iran as a o neibowing country to Mwstan and hq, extended firtl Cooperation to the Special Representative on Sim tion of Human Ri&ts i Afghanistan and the S p k d Repportcur n the Situation n of Human Rights in Iraq m ful%g theit mandarcs, r7 b) Coopetation with the OHCHR: An invitaion was extended to .the previous'HighCommissioner for Human Rights on the ocoasion of the S x h Regiond ~ m e n t for Human Rights in Asia and it s Pacific in 1998 and the Asian Preparatory Meeting for rhe World Confmmcc against Racism i 2001, at The side line of whfch n diffmcnt ways of enhanccmonr of lntcrnadond Cooperation pmainhg to the ongoing jbint projects were discussed in meetings uith respecrive officials of the Islamic Republic of hIt is to be rcicaratcd that the said Regional M~cdng u c c e s s ~ y s mmagcd to adopt an imporrant document, namcly 'Tehran Framnvork" constitt)ting chc four point general h m v o r k in Asia and Pacific for~prornotion protection of Human Rights in tho region. and Fwhcrmorc, it is worth mentioning that, all ~sspbctive mm.nutric&ons of tho Special Rapporcem have b a m positively responded to and their recommendatioxu also have bmn foUowed up i a timely manner. n 1.3. Cooperation b v i t b xuoni.toriag treaty bodies: The Wamic Republic of Iran's general as wellas periodical reports to the Committees on;Rights of the Child and Racial Discrimination have beex submitted i a timely manner and preskted and elaborated successfidly. n Consequeatly the concluding obwations o f the respective monitoring treaty bodes were communicatLd to Iht relevant nationd institutions and govckental entities With respect to Iran's periodic rcports to other Kuman Rights Tntcmationd hsuumenu ef have been made that full fm and timely cooperation be extended to the respective monitoring Keaty bodies. Furzhmore, it is worth mentioning that &aft of the las; due periodical report to the ~ p m u o n a Covenant on Eeanomic, social and culNla l Rights has already been finalized and is ready for pmsentation, while the periodical report on. Intmational Covenant on CiviI and Political Rights i s presently belng drafted. 1.4. Contribution to Intamadonal Initiatives: 3 ~bntributioaof Iranian experts to Humaa Rights M t c h d : Thc Islamic Republic; of Iran has introduced a number of its o ~ m d i n g cxpcrts for assuming Merent posts within the Human Rights Conmission mechanism such as Working Group on Jnvoluntary Disappearances and the working Group on Jubitrary Detention T e h lslamic PepubUc of Iran has also supported strenflenfng and promoting of the monitoring treaty bodies, efforts and activities. b) Holding as well as pdcipati&g in Regional and IntemationaI Confmenotssuch as: Conference on Humnn Rights in 1968; T e Six& Asia and Pacific Regional Artangemexts for h Human Rights in 1988; Tht first Intcrnatioaal The A J Regional Preparatory Meaing for rhe World ~ Confacnce asainst Racism, Racial Dkmimination, Xerrophobia and related intolorancts in 200 1 ; Final blethg o f OIC Senior Experts for Draftiag tke Dcclarauon on Hurnan Rights in Islam in 1990; Furthemore, fhe Islamic Republic of lran bad active participation in md sigificant contribution to all the W-sponsored Humm Rigkts International Conferences hdd during the I990s, including i particular, n the World Confemco on Human Rights in Vienna h 1993, the Second World Coaferencc on women and Development in Beijhg in 1995, and the World Confcrcoce against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related latolezancc i 2001 i Dtaban as well as all n n preparatory processes and follow-up measures of the abovbmmtioned confcrmces, The lslamic Repubfio of kaa bas also played an outna~ding and active roIe in the process of standard soning for the promotion and protection of human rights witbin thc Organization of the Islamic Confmcnce's fiarncwork. i A S 10 thousand donation to rhe Voluntary Fund for tho Victims C) of Torture, Su+ donations will be on the fi~tureagenda of resptcdva domestic institudolr 1.5. Cooperation with OHCHR and supPoportfor ib activities: lo addidon to the cases reiterated in 1.2, prior to the establishmmt of OHCHR and a&r fie official commencement of its activities, the Islamic Republic of lran extended its full cooperadon to the OHCHR in the context, of implemcncation of human rights joint projects. Tle s i ad process of moperation has been futther enhanced and promoted duting the r e m ycan, particularly in the follow& arc?: a) Submission of Comprehensive proposal for the enjoyment of technical assistance and advisory smicos ofOHCHR b) Launchbig o f a joint nadonal project i the field of Human n Rights Education in coIlabatatiotl 4 t h OHCHR and Iran's Ministry of Education as the raspecrive national d r y . o) Succussfil iutplcmcntation of a five-year national joint project xvirh a view to cnabling and promoting hwnan rights national capacity, which is being carried out with h e collaboration of UNDP offioe ia Tchrao, different executive bodies and universities, Convening of different h u m rights stminars thoughout the country, strengthening of human rights departments, EaaJlties at various tmivcrsitits, c o n d u c a human rights reswroh and studies as well as other educaional programs have also been inoorporatod in the said project d) Extension of fuU cooperation wlrh tho OHCHR in suaesbul convening of the Sixth Meeting of Human Rights Regional ~ a x n o n t s i Asia and Pacific as welI as che .Asian prcpmtory meeting of thc Warid n Conference against Racism 16 Contribution to the Deliberation o f Inturaational Human Rights .. For* Tbe Islamic Republic of kan has played a significant and inauendd role all the UP? sponsored Human fights International Coafcrences and moecings held in 1990s, which led to kan's qualitative and conceptual contribution 10 the intmadonal processes of human righrs standard in setring and Literature. Thc human rights policy of the Islamic Republic of kaa which: is i f ' l consistence with is iatematiod humzm rights n t comrnimeats; and reflective of national and rogional particularities as well as cultural, Mstorical and religious baclqmunds, has continuously emphasized the significance of interactive and cooperative approach in resolving intemarional problems of economic, sooial, culnval and humanitarian for the promorion and protection of human rights as stipulated i purposes and principles of the UN n C h m r as well as avoidance of conffmfstion and resorting to poht3cal pressure. The Islamic Republic of Iran's hmr m l v c in the prornodon and protection of human rights includes inter-alia, undertaking of measures lcading to fuahex oonvegcncc o f values and principles held by various counmss with diffclcmt cdhaal, social and historid backgrounds, on human rights question. T this end, while enjoying a rich and ancient o cultural heritage and civilkation and inspired by values and standards aising from its Islmic beliefs and perceptions, hart attaches paramount importance ro human dignity, accordingly it bas undertaken the following meanues with a v i e w to facilitabg cooperation amongst di-rent counmes in the field of human rights: - - The W C Republic of lr;nzis fully ~crnvincod po~ticjzation, that seledve approach md application of double stoadards significantly impdc the genuine promotion of human rights as stipulated in Vienna Declaration and program of action (VDPA 1993) and should be avoided To this end, the Wamic Republic o f han's imponant and practical contribudoa was realized in the context of e ~csolutionatitled "Enhanctmat o f laternational Cooperation in the field of Eiman Rights" which was adopted by the General Assembly ia 1996. EVGT since, the said resolution has bcm adopted by consensus as a corpmon initiate: of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in UNGA. - In addition to abovt-7nmtioned measure anothm resolution endtltd "Human Rights and Unilateral Coercive Mearms" was presemed by the Islamic Republic o f I r a ~ adopted by the General and Assembly i the same year. Amongst other important concepts, the said n resolution emphasizes rhe necessity 04 fostering a favorable inttnrational environment for growth and development of counrries, realization of all human rights and specifically underhes tho necessity of t e f b h h g from unilateral coercive measures. The Jslwic Republic of lraa has presmtcd the resolution entitled "Human Rights and Cultural Diversity"in tha ycar 2000. Ever since, it has been adoptcd by consensus at mnsecutive sessions of UNGA. The said resolution effectively conmbutcd TO rhc alaboration and follow-up of rho concept of cultural diversity, J W I a view to the fact that rha promodon o f mbtual recognition and un-ding iu culmal and social fields through exchange of v i m and discourse is a prerequisite to interaction and wntinuous cooperation fw achieving tho common objective of genuine ptomotion and protection of human rights, rhc Islamic Republic of h has presented the said resolution in odor TO help provide a concepnral fa m r witbin. the United Nations system to i m ok sene as a b b s for convergmcc of diffment peroeptions in the field of human rights at the intenrational level - - Ilhe idoa o f l)blogue among Civilization",adoption of rclevmt resolutions and declaration by Lbt consecutive sessions of the UNGA, coavepiag of UN sponsored regtonal meetings with the contibution of UN sewnary General and ultimately rhe establfshmaat of High Ievd persoaalities wirh the objective of fbhaance of discussions and, interactions amongst oulturb~ well as d i s c o w between the fbllowcrs as of difknnt religions has been realized in consistence with the Islamic Republic of Iran's above-mentioned initiatives and efforts. The s i ad the Mamie RepubUo of kaa War presented and adopted ar a t m when thc inrtrnational commuuity waj faccd with incroiui.ng waves ie of *cat to fie intcmatioaal pcaco and sec:wiry, the roots of which goes back to tho mcacality of thosc w h o believe i clash of civilizations. n Therefore due attention and finther effons to the said initiative particularly i the present condition and tnvironrnent prevailing the n world, mjoys a higher priority asid importance. Stiadve of in the field of Humas - Effom towards convergeace of Islamic and Western perceptions right^: 1Vid.1 a view to bringing closer differu~t hrrmnn r i g h ~cultures and ideoIogies, Islamio Republic of Iran has cmbuked upon some imporrant initiatives, These efforts were initiated with the aim of idmificauon o f thc common grounds of various entities, and facilitating fraternal, raspectsble and peaceful interaction amongst rhc nations, A few significant examples of those &or& include: Successful convening of diffamt seminars i this rtspspeq n Assisting OHCI3R in establishing of a high level expert goup as well as convening of two meetings of the said goup in Geneva where the participants had an ample opportunity to exchange views and idcntifl common grow& as weU as areas of diffintacts. - 1.7. Comxnitme~t fuUy support and engagemcur in deliberationsof to the Human rights Councll: l;hc Islamic Republio of &an has actively participated and cffctivdy con$buted t the human rights deliberations at the regional o and i n t e d o n d ~onferencess well as annual meetings of t;rNO~Thi~d i Committee and UNCHR It is worth matiorkg thar rhe lslamic Republic of lran has also had significant contribution to and an active role i the n disoussions leading to the creation of h n a n Rights Council a 4 if n elmcd as a mcmber, is determined to enhance, srrcngthen and continue extending its full cooperation wirh tlie human righzs council, its subsidiary,bodies and mechanisms inchding the special procedures. 1.8. Commitment to engagement In univvsal rwiew procedure: lslamic Republic of Lran is determined to partidpate in a conmucuve and trimspatar m m e r i deliberations and discdons pertaining to n universal review procedure. 7herefor~ it is prepared to actively participate i the deliberations as soon as it starts. n 1.9. Commitment to mcanlngfut engagement o f NGO's with the Council: Far the purpose of fLrha promotion md tnhancement of the civil society s w s and the NGO's participation in different civil, political, economic social and cultural spheres and pYticularly international humanitariga low and human ri@g the lslamtc republic of Jran has had oucreanding and compmhmive acdviucs. The csscncc of which can be described as fo1lows: a) The Islamic Rcpublic of Iran's active pmicipauon i and n valuable contribution t o the realization of thc mandate of the open-ended Working Group on rationalization and updating of UNGA resolution containing principles arrd suidelines regulating N W s interadoa with the UN and rhcir participatioai the UN sponsored intmationd confcrenceq n b) Successfid asrumption the ahairmanship of the NGO's Committee of ECOSOC fhm 2004 to 2006; Iran has continuously maintained thc view that the construcfiva c o n u i i o n of NGO's ro.rbe delibarations on eeonomic, cultural and, social, civil and political as well as htemadonrl hurnenkian and human rights issues is complementary to the effons aad measurns undertaken by the Governments and they can play an e f f h v e role i achieving n peaceful humanftarian goals, reitcrated in the Charter of the United Nations. 11. Islamic republic of h ' r bilateral efforts and tnftialives for the .0 promotion and protection of humrn rights: a) Holding of four rounds of human rights dialogues with the European Union with a view to enhancing mutual undcrstandig and communicating and exchanging o f the expaimces and perceptions ofthe rnpanics; b) Reaching agrebment and holding talks with a number of inrtrestcd countries in different geographical regions such as Switzerland, Russia, Japan, a d A d a 7 h i s human rights disoount has atwdy born h i t and led to enhanced rnutull undasudiug and iacreascd cooperation Ln the field of human rights. 2 ) National ConMbutlon, Pledges and Commitments The ldanric Republic of kan's national human rights policy is based on the Constimaon, which is inspired by the Islamic principles and i s i full n compliance with it9 oommitmants arising &om inrmrational'iastnrments and duly respccss the internationally accepted h m righrs, vdues and standards. The principles, prevailing rbe humair r i g h policy anshhedin ~ the "dlb Five Year Hatiom1 Devtlopmcat Progrm3" clearly represent vigo~ousanempt aimed at Human Rights Mainsetamin6 and stipulate fir11 raspect for the status end thn inheteat dignity of humaa beings &om the lslhmic pcrsputivcs as wdl as full respect for the titirms' rights. .These programs h v been deriped in a mannq to adequately address dl economic, social, culwal and civil and political rights of dazens including the dgbts u, dwelopmmt and provide to the fill extent possible, the effkctive enjoyment of Chc said and their promotion and protection, To this end, lslgmia Republic of Iran while reviewins amending and updating the existiny regulations, has taken measures for legislations of new and addidonal new resuladona Simulrantously, creation of national human rights institutions and bodies has effdvcly bcen pursued. w t s T accomplish the goals of the Fourth National Dmdopmcnt Program, o Qvclopmm of differeat approaches for national capacity building, strengthening of .paziod iusritution, human rights education and further amntion to rha economic, social and cultural nights pardcdarly Ms to t development has b a n toresea To this end sttengthtning of civil society, fostering an environment conducive for enhancement o f national hamao rights mechanism such as standing human rights cortunirtce in judiciary, Article 90 commission within the ParIiarnenf organization of Kational Ombudsmaq Bar Association, Dcpamneat of Admiaisdve Justice and Islamic Human Riglats Commission as wall as drafting and implmentatioa of Citizen Rights bill has been accomplished. 2.2. Identification of prkrcipal burnan rights chrllengn as well as indicatioa of steps to be taken to meet those challenges: Alrhough the W e Republic o f Iran, based its Consdtunod principks and intpnational obligations h had outstanding achievements i the a n promotion and safeguarding of hman rights and Amdmantal fmdoms, nevmheless, bearing i mind b a t there is no country which i imrnnne n s Corn buman rights challenges end thp obstadcs on the way of full rezdhtion of all human, dphv persist i diEfmnt counrdu L & n degrees, tbe Wamic Rcpubfic of ban also is faced with ctrrain shoncom~s and diflieulties, the roots of which .arc g e n c d y &veloprncntal questions and imposition o f economic saporions and applica~ionof unilateral policies by certain countries during the past quanu of century. In spite o f the said obstafles, the Islamic Republic of Tm within the contFxt of the Fourth National Dwcloprne~rProgrun is r committed to take the necessary measurer to uphold the hi@ea standard: and promotion and protection of all humen rights and fimdamental fitedoms of all citizens, realization of w i h is not only dependent on the hc national endeavors, it is also htcrlihked with the international support 3nd cooperation particularly with regard to realization of the righr to dsvc1opmenf as stipulated in the "Doclaration on the Right to drvelopment". 2.3- Approach to civil sodeiy contribution in elaboration and i~nplemw~tation human rights palicy: of The hportancc ofrole and contribution o f civil society i different fields n particularly issues pertaining to human rights policy through provision of rhcix condtativc views has precisely and c o m p l ~ I y bten fomstsr and reiteratad i rhe forth National Development Progam. Funhmnora the n necessity of conriaustion of empowerment policy of NGO's has also been underlined in the said progmn. T e vigorous pursrlanco of enabling h policy has lcd to establishment or enhancing o f soope of activities of some 2000 NOO's throughout the country as well as facilitating the acquiring of consdtarivc sa for 15 Mn NGO's. tm a Furthermore, convetling of different seminars and workshops relating to different aspects of NGO's activities in collaboration with OHCHR at local, national and regional levels and i particular hosting of NGO's n regional preparatory meetings for the World Conference against Racism is yer mother tangiilc rtsulc of above-mentioned policies, 2.4. Commitment to protect against and prevent discrimbation in law and practice; Considering the Islamic Basis of &ng laws and rquMons in the Islamic Rqublic of h which has accorded the highest prioriry and attention to the eliminatioa of all forms of dimhination against its citizas aud with due mgard to the fan that lran is a party t the o International Convention against all Forms of Racism, Racial Discximination, Xenophobia and related IntolcranceI therefore, with respec[ ro srandards and rncasurts pertinent to this question, Inn has initiated considerable numbcr of initiativesaim that overcoming this u@y phenomenon both in legislation of l w and i practice. as n 2 5 . Pledpc to uphoId the Mghest standards i promotion and n protection of human rights; As elaborated earlier, since its inccptios the Tslamio E~public f T r q bas o in Wc with its national law and intcnzadonal commitments exerted maximum endeavors for promotion and protection o f human xigbts and fundamental freedoms at national and international levels and fecls duty bound, if elected to the Human Rights Council, ro intensify and double its con&uous and target-oriented efforts 'inthis field.' 7'he above-monrlonedpledges and commlirnenrs vividly iesfifies thar dhe lslamic Republic o Iran a a responsible and efeetive member of f s international community has cotrlinuowb exerkd i maximum gfom u und extended irrfilt and comprahenstve coopemtion with the respecrive UN bodies and organsfor rhoprvrnorion and prolection o Human righrs. f Islamic R~pubtic o lmn I firmly deremined fa the contexr o f s f jmpfcmentclrion o princeles reifemfed i the Founh Narional f n Developmen( Program to overcome the chp/fangesrhough slr~ng~hening and increasing [he natiohal monitoring imtilulions ar well as pavtng the qo,und for firthor promolion o respecr for humun rights value3 and f stand6rds. The Isfamic ~epublicof iran, if etecred m Human Rights Council member, i delemined to confinue its I'nteracfive and coclptmlive s approach and double i& ego* for genuine promotion andprorecfioh of all human righls and fitndarnenral fiedom rhrough addvessing the dflciencies and prevenling polifical abuses of (he councll mechanlshs which will pave rhe ground ,for realizallon of [he common and noble goafs o internarlonal community as sripul~r~d rhe pu~osecr and f In principles o h a United rVarions. f