Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

In 2002 the UN decided not to renew its Special Rapporteur on Iran. He had explicitly been banned from visiting the country in 1996 and this became an example of how non-cooperation by States with UN mechanisms paid off. But now, on Thursday 24 March 2011, the UN Human Rights Council has redeemed itself and voted to step up international scrutiny of Iran by appointing an investigator to monitor the country amid a crackdown on dissent, detention of Human Rights Defenders and a surge in executions. Ending this nine-year break in scrutiny was done by a surprisingly large margin in the Council’s vote ( 22 to 7 and 14 abstentions). This is the first country-specific appointment of a Special Rapporteur by the new Council.

In December last year, the UN General Assembly had expressed “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations” in Iran, such as “torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging and amputations.” High Commissioner Pillay last month also expressed dismay at an increase in executions since the beginning of 2011 and reiterated calls for a moratorium on the death penalty. She had highlighted the executions of “political activists” who were arrested during protests in September 2009 and hanged in January this year.