Welcome to the Bahá'í International Community United Nations Office
Also available in presentation mode…
Iran's human rights record condemned by United Nations
 |
|
United Nations |
21 December (New York) – In a vote today, the United Nations once again strongly condemned Iran for failing to live up to international human rights standards. By a vote of 78 to 45, with 59 abstentions, the UN General Assembly confirmed a resolution that expressed “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations.” In more than two decades of such resolutions about Iran, the vote passed with one of the highest percentages ever. more...
Bahá'í International Community sends open letter to Head of the Judiciary of Iran
 |
|
Iran's seven Bahá'í leaders. |
7 December (New York) – The Bahá'í International Community transmitted the following open letter to His Excellency Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq Larijani, the Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran. [English text] [Persian text]
more...
Ambassadorial retreat invites NGO input into UN Human Rights Council review process
 |
|
Nawarat Wongsopa and Diane `Alá’í in Bangkok |
10 December (Bangkok) – The Bahá'í International Community’s representative in Geneva, Diane `Alá’í, attended a gathering of UN ambassadors in Bangkok in December, accompanied by Mr. Nawarat Wongsopa, representative of the Bahá'í community in Thailand. Delegates from major international NGOs were invited to provide input into the Human Rights Council review process, presently underway to evaluate the work and functioning of the Council, five years after its establishment. Organized as part of the review process, the retreat was the initiative of the current Council President, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who also serves as Thailand’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva.
UN resolution sharply critical of Iran for continuing human rights violations
18 November (New York) -- A committee of the UN General Assembly today sharply criticized Iran for its continued and increasing violations of human rights. 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. more...
New Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief stresses human dignity, the right to change religious affiliation
|
| Diane Ala'i and Bani Dugal of the BIC with Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt |
22 October (New York) - Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, spoke at an introductory briefing organized by the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief at the Bahá'í International Community’s UN Office. Earlier in the week, Dr. Bielefeldt, a professor of Human Rights and Human Rights Politics
at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany), addressed the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee affirming that, “Human dignity is neither an ascribed societal status, nor a privilege granted by Governments. more...
Former Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet, appointed to lead UN Women
 |
| Michelle Bachelet |
15 September (New York) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon announced his appointment of former Chilean President (2006-2010), Michelle Bachelet, as the Under-Secretary-General for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Bahá'í International Community representative and member of the UN Gender Equality Architecture Campaign (GEAR), Bani Dugal, stated that “it is our hope that her experience of leadership in the international arena, her dedication to the advancement of women and girls, and her commitment to working with civil society and the women’s movement will guide the work of this ground-breaking entity and rally member states to strengthen their efforts to achieve the equality of women and men." The new gender entity will consolidate the four existing UN bodies on women, increase operational capacity at the country level and gain increased funding for work on women’s empowerment and advancement. Read UN News article, GEAR Press Release.
Harsh sentences are a judgment against an entire religious community
 |
15 August (New York) - The harsh prison sentences handed down to seven Iranian Baha'i leaders who are absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing is a judgment against an entire religious community, the Baha'i International Community said today. more…
An interview with members of GEAR's facilitation committee
 |
2 August (New York) – Three members of the GEAR (Gender Equality Architecture Reform) Campaign’s Facilitation Group, Charlotte Bunch from the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, Bani Dugal from the Baha’i International Community, and Rachel Harris from the Women’s Environment and Development Organization discuss the process that culminated in the adoption of a Resolution calling for the creation of UN WOMEN--a consolidated entity to lead the UN's normative and operational efforts to advance the equality of women and men. Since 2006, the campaign has mobilized over 300 women’s, human rights and social justice organizations to advocate for the consolidation of the efforts, functions, mandates, and assets of the four existing UN gender agencies into one entity.
Assembly President Meets Representatives of GEAR Campaign
 |
|
Representatives of the GEAR campaign with General Assembly President |
17 June 2010 (New York)— GEAR Campaign representatives, including Bahá'í International Community’s representative Bani Dugal, met with Ali Abdussalam Treki, President of the 64th session of the General Assembly, to deliver the petition urging the General Assembly to establish a new women's entity. The petition was signed by 34,555 people from 165 countries and territories around the world. Read GEAR Press Release.
