The third preliminary meeting of the scientific pre-conferences related to the "First Eastern International Human Rights conference" was held on Thursday, October 4, 2024. This pre-conference was hosted by Baqir al-Olum University and organized in collaboration with the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, held both in-person and virtually.

Dr. Mohammad Hosseini, the scientific secretary of the meeting, began the main discussion by questioning the current status of human rights in today's world and asked about its impact on international relations.

 

Following the introduction, Dr. Sajjadpour, a professor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, began his discussion as the presenter and ideator in response to the posed question. He initially categorized the discussion into two parts:

- A: Divergent perceptions of human rights.

- B: The presence of multiple actors in the field of human rights, including governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals.

 

Dr. Sajjadpour believes that although the discourse on human rights began in 1947 with the involvement of several major Western governments, the continuation and expansion of this idea did not remain exclusive to Western governments. According to him, human rights gradually grew and evolved, establishing their hegemonic position in international relations. Today, we witness the active involvement of Eastern governments like China, as well as some African and Latin American countries such as South Africa and Brazil, in this field. This indicates that the discourse on human rights has found its prominent place in international relations more than ever before, becoming an important part of the foreign policies of various governments.

 

Dr. Sajjadpour further explained that the most important aspect of human rights pertains to the actors and stakeholders involved, which historically have been predominantly governments. However, this trend has evolved in international relations to the point where individuals also participate in this field and even challenge governments. An example of this can be seen in the actions of students and non-governmental individuals in the United States concerning the Gaza conflict.

 

Additionally, the impact of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in this field cannot be overlooked. Today, there are approximately 20-30 NGOs reporting on various human rights issues.

 

Dr. Sajjadpour, in analyzing the current state of human rights and the differences that have emerged since 1947, explained that countries like China, India, South Africa, and Latin American countries such as Brazil now even claim ownership in the field of human rights and strive to play a leading role in this area. This indicates that Western countries are no longer the sole players in this field and are, in a way, losing their dominance. A recent example of this can be seen in Netanyahu's recent speech at the United Nations, where he expressed frustration and anger over the delegitimization of the Israeli regime by human rights organizations.

He further explained that one cannot expect human rights to undergo a sudden transformation or for significant changes in the realization of human rights to be implemented immediately. Instead, this process is related to the understanding and demands of nations and typically occurs over time. However, one should not lose hope, as recent developments, such as the United Nations Committee's Resolution on Racial Discrimination, indicate that the future outlook for human rights may bring significant changes.

 

Dr. Ranjbar then spoke as a critic. He criticized the current situation and emphasized the need to overcome it. According to Dr. Ranjbar, the current state of human rights, particularly within institutional and organizational frameworks, has fallen into a double standard. Instead of genuinely seeking to fulfill the rights of nations, it is being misused as a political tool, especially by some Western governments. He explained that one of the most significant challenges in the current situation is the specific legal and political interpretations of human rights events by some Western governments, particularly the United States. These interpretations often exempt the biggest violators of human rights from any accountability and even perversely grant legitimacy to genocides and organized crimes!

 

Dr. Ranjbar emphasized the need for a renewed focus on human rights, highlighting the importance of recognizing cultural diversity, the rights of underprivileged nations, and the perspectives of ancient great civilizations. He stressed that these voices should be heard in the human rights discourse.

 

At the end of the meeting, Dr. Sotoudeh Arani, an associate professor at Baqir al-Olum University, enriched the discussion with his remarks. He posed the question of whether leftist human rights discourse could be taken seriously within the broader human rights conversation, expanding the scope of the debate. He also spoke about Islamic human rights discourse and its various aspects. Furthermore, Dr. Sotoudeh Arani raised the question of whether it is possible to overcome the current situation considering the diverse perceptions of human rights, and elaborated on this point.

 

This meeting, as the third pre-conference of the series related to the First Eastern International Human Rights conference, was held at 2 PM on Thursday, October 4, at Shahid Beheshti Hall of Baqir al-Olum University. The International Affairs Office of Baqir al-Olum University, in collaboration with the University’s Philosophy of Law Scientific Association, hosted this meeting.