A UN Special Rapporteur On Unilateral Sanctions To Visit Iran In May

The UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights is scheduled to visit Iran next month.

According to the UN Human Rights Office, Alena Douhan will visit Iran to assess impact of unilateral sanctions on human rights from May 7 to 18.

The role of this Special Rapporteur was created by a 2014 resolution at the UN Human Rights Council introduced by Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Human rights organizations have criticized the Islamic Republicfor not allowing similar trips to UN Special Rapporteurs focusing on human rights in Iran since 1992.

Lawyer Saeed Dehghan told Iran International, "We face a double standard, both from Iranian authorities and from UN officials", and activist Mehrangiz Kar said that the Iranian government seeks to convince the world that “if there is a violation of human rights in the country, it is due to sanctions."

Douhan’s visit is aimed at examining whether and to what extent the sanctions impedes the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments.

During the visit, she will meet with various representatives from the government, the United Nations agencies, as well as non-governmental, business community, and civil society organizations and experts.

The Special Rapporteur – who has asked for input from all stakeholders -- is set to submit her conclusions to the 51st Session of the Human Rights Council in September 2022.