A conference focused on protecting the rights of Iranians has discussed economic and environmental justice, and misinformation during transitional periods.
The second and final day of the conference, titled Iran: Transitional Justice, in Oslo brought together experts with specific experience in transitions from authoritarian regimes to democracies.
Kambiz Ghaffari, a journalist and a member of the Iran Human Rights Organization, which are hosts of the conference, shared insights with Iran International from the event, saying that the 22 speakers invited were not only Iranians but international specialists.
Srdjan Darmanovic, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, examined various facets of transitioning from authoritarian governance. He stressed that while discussions of transitions to democracy often evoke an “epic image” of Eastern Europe, the process can be considerably more challenging in some cases.
Nikahang Kowsar, a journalist and environmental analyst, discussed the exploitation of environmental resources during the Islamic Republic’s rule. Speaking on a panel dedicated to environmental justice, Kowsar underscored the vital importance of responsible resource management especially water during transitional phases as mismanagement can lead to food insecurity and instability.
This is the third annual conference hosted with the aim to create debate and dialogue between citizens and experts on the challenges of establishing justice during the transitional period, and in parallel, to propose solutions by examining different transition models.
The conference’s first day featured Javaid Rehman, a Pakistani-British legal scholar based in London and United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran who is not allowed to enter the country. Speaking about his pursuit against human rights violations and state brutality, he said he would continue despite all resistance and push for Iran to transition to a democratic state.
