ID :
25832
Tue, 10/21/2008 - 18:58
Auther :

UN criticises Iran for denying rights to women, minorities

United Nations, Oct 21 (PTI) United Nations has criticised Iran for denying rights to women, executing juveniles, use of stoning as method of execution and suppressing minorities in the country.

In a just released report, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the 192-member General Assembly that stepped up crackdowns against women's rights movement and "widespread" gender based violence in Iran is a cause for concern.

Besides, women have limited employment opportunities outside the agriculture sector, he said.

Ban noted that though it has made strides in boosting women's education and health, along with progress in reviewing discriminatory laws, it "is faced with a number of challenges in gender equity and equality and empowerment of women."

He said that there continue to be reports of members of the Baha'i community facing arbitrary detention, false imprisonment, confiscation and destruction of property, denial of employment and Government benefits and denial of access to higher education.

"A significant increase has been reported in violence targeting Baha'is and their homes, shops, farms and cemeteries
throughout the country," he wrote, adding that there have been several cases of torture and ill-treatment of the group in custody.

The report said there has been a sudden surge of
executions in recent months, and the U.N. Human Rights
Committee has sounded the alarm over the "extremely high
number of death sentences, many resulting from trials in which
the guarantees of due process of law had not been properly
applied."

Despite a circular issued by the head of the judiciary
in January 2002 prohibiting stoning as punishment, the
practice has been reported to continue.

In another non-binding circular, the judiciary has
placed a moratorium on juvenile executions, but the sentences
are still being applied, Ban said.

Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights (I.C.C.P.R.) and to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child, both of which obligate States parties not
to impose the death penalty on those who commit crimes under
the age of 18.

"The age for criminal responsibility under Iranian law
is set at 14 years and 7 months for boys and 8 years and 9
months for girls, which is not only discriminatory but also
low by international standards," the report said.

The report urged Iran to continue revising national
laws, particularly the new Penal Code and juvenile justice law
to bring them in line with international human rights
standards. It also welcomes steps the country has taken to
explore cooperation on human rights and justice reform with
the United Nations. PTI

X