The United Kingdom’s Annual Report on Human Rights Features Iran’s Neda

22 Mar 2010 – Medya News – Last week the United Kingdom Commonwealth and Foreign Office introduced its Annual Report on Human Rights.

Speaking to an audience of NGOs and human rights stakeholders, the Foreign Secretary launched the 2009 Annual Report on Human
Rights this afternoon. Baroness Kinnock, Minister for Human Rights, also

participated in the event. Around 150 NGOs and human rights stakeholders attended the launch.

The Foreign Secretary highlighted some of the human rights work completed by the Foreign Office over the last year, and addressed the challenges faced in upholding human rights. He said:

“First, we must support the struggle for civil rights. When courageous protestors make their voices heard on the streets of Iran for example, we, making clear their desire for democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms; and when their Government responds with brutality, then we’re right to speak up.

Second, we should provide practical help that meets individual countries’ specific needs, working with civil society rather than lecturing Government.  That means funding projects to give a greater voice to civil society in places such as Vietnam and Pakistan. Given Glenys’snew role that was announced by the Prime Minister, it’s especially important that we help empower women in places like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. And at the Afghan Conference a representative of women’s organisations in Afghan civil society spoke from this very platform to seventy Foreign Ministers from around the world at that conference. Condemning the oppression of journalists in Russia, in places like Russia is important; of human rights campaigners in Belarus; of opposition politicians in Syria; of trade unionists in Colombia; and gay rights activists in, in Uganda, Burundi and Malawi. There was a brilliant article by the way in the Washington Post last week by Archbishop Desmond Tutu about gay rights issues in Africa that’s well worth getting off the internet. These are small steps, but each one of them matters.

Thirdly, we need to recognise that new technologies transform the ability of individuals to organise in the face of authoritarianism. We should support their spread. But how much we’re in love with new media, let’s not forget the power of some older media, traditional media, media, such as the BBC World Service radio as well as TV and its Arabic and Farsi offshoots, as they try to give a voice to communities otherwise unable to freely express themselves.”

The cover of the 194 page report that primarily focused on the condition of human rights in 22 countries including Iran, Iraq, and Syria was dedicated to  Neda Agha Sultan, the slain young Iranian girl that became the symbol of Iran’s freedom movement during the last 9 month following the regime’s staged elections.

In regards to Iran, the report stated “It has been particularly a grim year in 2009 for human rights in Iran, largely defined by government’s brutal response to widespread protests after the disputed presidential elections in June”.

The report in detailing the incidents of the last 9 months and the brutal crack-down that followed, also highlighted discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities: “Members of Iran’s ethnic minority groups from the Ahwaz, Kurdistan, Khuzestan, Baluchistan and Turkmenistan regions also face increasing intimidation. Large numbers have been detained on charges of endangering national security.

The report along with criticizing Iranian regime’s policy of executing dissidents stated that “ The days after the election result saw a series of mass executions in Iran’s border regions, viewed by many as a warning sign to the local populations. On 11 November, Ehsan Fattahian was executed after a ten-year sentence to be served in exile was increased to a death sentence by a higher court. We expressed concern at reports that Fattahian was tortured during detention, as well as irregularities during his trial. Many members of minority groups remain on death row accused of terrorism, treason, or acting against national security.”

The report also welcomes Iraq’s considerable progress in human rights in 2009, and it reminds that signifacnt human rights challenges remain especially in regards to the freedom of expression, law and order and women’s rights.

Another country of focus was Syria where the report complained of deteriorating human rights records in 2009: “We remain deeply concerned about arbitrary arrests, intimidation, torture, travel bans, lack of freedom of expression, and lack of respect for the rights of the  Kurdish minority.”

As in regards to the violation of the rights of the Kurds in Syria the report further highlighted “Syria’s estimated 1.7 million Kurds continue to suffer from discrimination, lack of political representation, and tight expression on social and cultural expressions.  In particular, there are a number of measures in place repressing Kurdish identity, through restricting the use of Kurdish language in public, in schools and in the workplace.  Kurdish-language publications are banned, and celebrations of Kurdish festivities, such as Nowruz, the traditional Kurdish New Year are prohibited.”  In addition “as many as 300,000 Kurds continued to be denied recognized citizenship.”

Concluding his speech, the Foreign Secretary said: “It’s plain from the challenges that I’ve set out that the coming year will be no easier than the last. I don’t think any of you will be surprised by that. But we’re in this for the long haul. ”

So although we have a long way to go we should recognise that patience and above all determination and effort can lead to progress. That’s the lesson that I take from the Human Rights Report 2009.”

The Annual Report on Human Rights is a tool to inform parliament, NGOs and the general public and to hold the Foreign Office to account for our policy and activities to promote human rights around the world. It focuses on UK views and actions, and looks at the integration of human rights elements into some of our primary policy objectives. It also addresses our activity in 22 countries of particular concern. Among theses are some of the most high profile human rights issues of 2009 – including Burma and Iran.