Written question asked by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Monday, 30 April 2012.

Iran

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take, with the European Union and with other states, to promote the implementation of the recommendations in the Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.

Answer: The UK fully supports the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur for Iran, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, in his recent report to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. My right honourable friend, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt), discussed the content of Dr Shaheed's report during a meeting with him on 16 April, highlighting our continuing support for his work. We shall continue to work closely with our European partners and other members of the UN Human Rights Council to promote awareness of the human rights situation in Iran and encourage wider support for the work of Dr Shaheed. It is vital that the Iranian Government seize the opportunity to engage with him. In particular, the Iranian Government should grant him access to sites and individuals in Iran so that he can fulfil the mandate the international community have given him to assess the human rights situation there.

Secondary information