Human rights dominate Ban’s talks with Iranian official

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed a range of human rights issues today with the head of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights, Mohammad Javed Ardeshir Larijani, at United Nations Headquarters.

They exchanged views on specific human rights issues in Iran, as well as the operation of the country’s domestic human rights mechanisms, according to information provided by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson.

The Secretary-General welcomed Iran’s invitation to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Iran in 2011.

Among the other issues discussed by the two men were intergovernmental processes dealing with human rights in Iran, such as the recent Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review.

The Universal Periodic Review is a process which involves a review by the Geneva-based Council of the records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years.