UN Rights Chief Concerned About Iran Arrests

March 7, 2007 -- The United Nations' high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, has expressed concern over the detention in Iran of at least 31 women activists who had gathered peacefully in Tehran.

Arbour said in a statement that Iran must adhere to the human rights treaties it has signed.


Arbour said the women, who were arrested on March 4, were protesting the prosecution of five other women activists and were exercising their right to assemble peacefully when they were detained.


(AP)

UN Human Rights Council

UN Human Rights Council

UN General Assembly delegates applaud the creation of the UN Human Rights Council on March 15, 2006 (epa)

A FRESH START ON HUMAN RIGHTS: The United Nations General Assembly on May 9 elected members to its new Human Rights Council, a step that reformers hope will help improve the United Nations' sullied record on defending human rights. The UN's old human rights watchdog -- the Commission on Human Rights -- had long been criticized for granting membership to countries with dismal human rights records, such as Cuba, Sudan and Zimbabwe.
Every member of the new body has to pledge to promote human rights. (more)


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