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In London, seminar discusses access to justice in Iran

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(From left) Mahnaz Parakand, Kirsty Brimelow QC, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, Dr Nazila Ghanea, discuss access to justice violations in Iran

LONDON, 9 May 2013 – Issues of due legal process and access to justice in Iran came under scrutiny at a high-level seminar, organised to mark the fifth anniversary of the arrest of Iran’s seven former Baha’i leaders. Held at the Law Society of England and Wales – and co-hosted by the Bar Human Rights Committee – the seminar on Thursday 9 May attracted more than 50 practising barristers, solicitors and human rights lawyers. The seminar heard how the trial and sentencing of the seven Baha’is to 20 years in prison each, was conducted under [...] Read more »

Bahá’ís sign open letter on Millennium Development Goals

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LONDON – An open letter, “Thirteen years on, the MDG values are as imperative as ever,” calling on the world’s G8 governments to renew their commitments to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and signed by religious leaders and councils from all the major faiths of the G8 countries, was published today in the Financial Times newspaper. Writing in the paper on the date marking 1,000 days until the 2015 deadline of the MDGs, which were agreed at the UN’s Millennium Summit in 2000, the 88 religious representatives  The signatories, lead by Archibishop Justin Welby of [...] Read more »

Youth panel discusses rural women at House of Commons seminar

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Tom Brake MP with youth panel

Tom Brake MP wants to stay in touch with a panel of young people who joined him in the House of Commons on 27 March to discuss the lives of rural women. Representatives of the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO) and other NGOs also took part in the discussion. Mr Brake, the Liberal Democrats’ equalities spokesperson and a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Bahá’ís praised the panel’s balance of practical suggestions and theoretical ideas. He was particularly taken with the use of consultative decision-making to empower rural women and give them a voice. [...] Read more »

Bahá’í Centre hosts youth panel discussion with UK Equalities Minister on the lives of rural women

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Lynne Featherstone MP with members of the youth panel

Lynne Featherstone MP (centre) with members of the youth panel on rural women UK Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone MP joined a youth panel and a number of guests on 15 March at the National Bahá’í Centre in London to discuss the empowerment of rural women. The minister and panellists shared insights from their participation in this year’s UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and continued the debate on those issues within the UK. In a dynamic series of presentations the five youth panellists explored different dimensions of the need to empower rural women around [...] Read more »

Moral education can end violence against women

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Gender Equality

LONDON, 11 March 2011 – Violence against women remains high and attitudes that perpetuate it are endorsed in popular music and the media. Education, including moral development, is essential for reducing violence in the future, agreed a group of activists and experts in London, brought together by the Bahá’í community of the United Kingdom. The National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO), partnered with Widows’ Rights International and sponsored by the Bahá’í community, held a seminar and dramatic performance called SAY NO NOW, to confront violence against women and girls. The event was held at the [...] Read more »

UK Baha'is mark International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

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The United Nations today marks the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery – an international event of much importance to the Baha’i community. Baha’u'llah, the Founder of the Baha’i Faith, wrote to Queen Victoria, praising Her Majesty for her government’s abolition of slavery. “We have been informed that thou has forbidden the trading in slaves, both men and women. … God hath, truly, destined a reward for thee, because of this.” The Baha’i writings teach the equality of men and women and prohibit any kind of slavery, sexual subjugation, or trafficking in human beings. [...] Read more »

UN resolution criticises Iran for continuing human rights violations

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A committee of the United Nations General Assembly has sharply criticized Iran for its continued and increasing violations of human rights, the Baha’i World News Service reports. Put forward by 42 co-sponsors, including the United Kingdom, the resolution’s passage by the Third Committee virtually assures final approval by the General Assembly Plenary in December. By a vote of 80 to 44, the Assembly’s Third Committee approved a resolution that “expresses deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations” in Iran. There were 57 abstentions. The vote came after Iran attempted a “no-action motion,” aimed [...] Read more »

Nations voice concerns about Iran's human rights record

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The Baha’i World News Service reports that countries and human rights organisations from around the world have expressed their very strong concerns at the UN’s Human Rights Council about Iran’s human rights record. All 192 countries that members of the United Nations undergo a regular review of their human rights practices in a process known as the Universal Periodic Review. According to a report on the International Service for Human Rights an unusually high number of governments and non-governmental organisations lined up to comment on Iran’s human rights review. A number of Western countries, including [...] Read more »

UN resolution condemns Iran's treatment of Baha'is and other citizens

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The Baha’i World News Service reports that a strongly worded resolution passed today at the United Nations sends a strong message to the Iranian government about its treatment of its citizens. The UN General Assembly’s Third Committee approved the resolution, which notes that the seven Baha’i leaders detained in Tehran since Spring 2008 have faced “serious charges without adequate or timely access to legal representation”, by 74 votes to 48. Expressing “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran”, the resolution’s list of violations included oppressive measures [...] Read more »

UN Secretary General concern over Bahá'ís and others in Iran

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The Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has expressed his concern over human rights violations in Iran against Bahá’ís, other minorities, women and juveniles. In a 20-page document, Mr Ban responded to a request from the General Assembly last December for a “comprehensive report” on the human rights situation in Iran. While noting some positive achievements, Mr Ban stated that although Iran’s constitution guarantees a wide range of fundamental freedoms, “in practice there are a number of serious impediments to the full protection of human rights.” His report expressed concern about the use [...] Read more »