West Asia in need of a culture of peace
The 5th International Conference on the Future of Peace & Human Rights in West Asia commenced on Monday, December 11. Organized by the Foundation of Dialogue and Solidarity of the United Nations (FODASUN), the conference took place at Iran’s Khaneye Andishe Varzan. Its primary objective was to encourage engaging discussions and provide insightful perspectives on the subject matter.
This conference aims to bring together influential speakers and experts in the field to deliberate on crucial issues surrounding peace and human rights in the region. The inaugural session of the conference featured distinguished speakers, including Stefan Priesner, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Iran, Mohsen Ghanei, Head of the Department of Development and Human Rights Treaties at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Amirsaed Vakil, an Attorney at Law and Assistant Professor at the University of Tehran’s Faculty of Law and Political Science.
At first, Masoud Ravankhah, the head of FODASUN, welcomed the guests and speakers, and then passed the floor to Priesner, who began by acknowledging the significance of International Human Rights Day, and emphasized the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the progress made in establishing a comprehensive international framework for the protection of human rights.
Priesner stated that, despite the current situation in Gaza, the state of human rights globally is much better than it was in 1948, “When the world just emerged from a catastrophic world war, with 50 million people dead; a time when countries came together searching for a common ground to establish a more permanent peace.”
Priesner then emphasized the close link between peace and human rights, noting that human rights violations remain a challenge in many parts of the world. He discussed the ongoing efforts to develop and codify human rights laws, including debates on standards-setting in areas such as the right to the environment and human rights in the context of emerging technologies.
Turning to the situation in Gaza, Priesner referred to the resumption of hostilities as “catastrophic” and echoed the sentiment of the UN, urging all influential states “to redouble their efforts immediately to ensure a ceasefire.”
Priesner also emphasized the importance of promoting sustainable development, inclusive societies, environmental protection, and access to justice as key elements in achieving stability and conflict prevention.
He discussed the United Nations Country Team’s work in Iran, emphasizing development and humanitarian priorities. Priesner highlighted the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which promotes collaboration between Iran and the UN in various areas.
Priesner concluded his speech by saying, “Let us all use today’s event to step up our efforts to translate human rights into reality in the lives of every child, woman, and man around the globe and the region.”
After a short break, Mohsen Ghanei followed Priesner’s speech and continued the discussion on human rights, dedicating his speech to explaining the mechanisms of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the nature of Universal Periodic Reviews. He drew the attendees’ attention to the dismal human rights records of Israel, which is the subject of item 7 in the council. This item is titled “Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories” and is defined by UNHRC Resolution 5/1 as encompassing “human rights violations and implications of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.”
“Nine out of 36 UNHRC special sessions were about Israel’s crimes,” Ghanei said.
Then, Professor Amirsaed Vakil from the University of Tehran delivered a scholarly presentation on various aspects of Peace and Human Rights, with a specific focus on the West Asia region. He drew attention to the fact that the region, home to seven percent of the world’s population and with a median age of 22, possesses major potential to shape the future of the world. However, the presence of unresolved fundamental issues within the region, coupled with its high ethnic diversity and more than 60 spoken languages, also creates a fertile ground for wars and armed conflicts. Nevertheless, by prioritizing a culture of peace rooted in democratic values, the West Asia region can effectively navigate these turbulent times and strive towards achieving lasting and sustainable peace.
Lastly, the audience and speakers engaged in a brief period of Q&A, during which questions were raised about the UN’s ability to safeguard human rights, the role Iran can play, and what the future holds for prominent countries in the region.