UN Authority Figures

U.N. Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
Governing Council: Iran

Photo: Navid Khanjani [member of Baha'i faith] close to Nikbakht Court as he bids farewell to his family while being taken to Evin Prison (Wed 3 Mar. 2010). Campaign of attacks against the Baha'i community has included dawn raids on their homes and the confiscation of personal property; orchestrated attacks on Baha'i homes and properties, destruction of cemeteries throughout the country and demolition of holy places and shrines and acts of arson against Baha'i homes and properties. Baha'is in Iran - persecution blog

Mission of the U.N. Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT): "The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all." (UN-HABITAT web-site, "Our Mission")
"UN-HABITAT's Land and Tenure Section is the agency's point of reference for land management and tenure systems, policies and legislation that help achieve adequate shelter, security of tenure and equal access to economic resources for all, with a specific focus on gender equality. The main focus areas and mandate are implementation of land, housing and property rights, and particularly secure tenure for women." (UN-HABITAT web-site, "Shelter Branch")

Iran's Term of office: 2010-2014 (re-elected April 28, 2010)

Iran's Record on Sustainable Human Settlements:
"Provisions in the Islamic civil and penal codes, particularly sections dealing with....property law, discriminate against women...The constitution allows the government to confiscate property acquired...in a manner not in conformity with Islamic law, and the government particularly targeted religious minorities, especially members of the Baha'i faith...The courts denied Baha'is the right to inherit property...The government reportedly continued to confiscate private and commercial properties, as well as religious materials, belonging to Baha'is...There were widespread reports that government agents entered, searched, and/or ransacked the homes and offices of reformist journalists in an attempt to intimidate them." (US State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2009, Iran)