Human rights: UN examine the situation in 16 countries

GENEVA - The Commission on Human Rights of the United Nations opened a session Monday morning to review the situation in sixteen countries including a debate on Iran, February 15th

•    Until February 19, the 47 member states of the Council for Human Rights will review Qatar, Nicaragua, Italy, El Salvador, Gambia, Bolivia, Fiji, San Marino, Kazakhstan, Angola, Iran, Madagascar, Iraq, Slovenia, Egypt and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  
  
•    In Iran, the challenge to the controversial re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president on June 12, 2009 is continuing and is facing intense repression. The debate on Iran must be held before the Commission on Human Rights while Tehran celebrates the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
  
     The Nobel Peace of 2003, Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi on Sunday urged Iranians to "peaceful protest" on the occasion of the celebrations, which should culminate on February 11.
  
     The Council, meeting in public plenary must spend three hours on each of the sixteen countries examined.
  
     The High Commissioner for UN Human Rights will present its own report on each of the states reviewed, and the compilation of information from NGOs or competent persons.
  
     Delegations from the countries concerned will then present the reports prepared by national authorities and discuss with the Council member states as well as observer countries.
  
     A half hour is finally vested, usually two days after the general debate, to report on the reviewed country and incorporating the recommendations made in plenary by the Council member states and observer countries.
  
     The process of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) should allow the Council of Human Rights to review in four years the situation in the 192 member states of the United Nations. Engaged in April 2008, the first cycle of this new mechanism should be completed in December 2011.
  
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.