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INTERNATIONAL

Ò× ÐÎ×ÎßÊ ENAYAT HOUSHMAND

UN human rights pioneer

By Bertrand Ramcharan

As the UN celebrates the 75 anniversary of summaries of the CERD’s deliberations had to be prepared; and
th
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Annual Report of CERD had to be prepared for adoption. In
it is appropriate to recall the memory of short, the secretariat had to help steer this innovative human rights
one of its human rights pioneers, Dr Enayat treaty body. And Enayat Houshmand was the anchor for this as its
Houshmand, who passed away on 19 January Secretary.
2020 – a period that saw the advent of COVID-
19. Enayat Houshmand pioneered this process, and for the next 25
years, went on to lead the team that serviced the implementation
The UN human rights project was conceived of the UN Human Rights Committee, the Committee on the
from the outset as consisting of three Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee on the Rights
important parts: the Universal Declaration of of the Child, and other UN human rights treaty bodies.
Human Rights (1948), Human Rights Treaties, Enayat became the Chief of the International Instruments Section
and Measures of Implementation. The first of of the human rights secretariat. When the position of High
the human rights treaties to enter into force, Commissioner was established after the Vienna Conference, Enayat
in 1969, was the International Convention served as one of the pillars who anchored the human rights
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial programme and steered it into a new reality. He served as a trusted
Discrimination, which had been adopted by director next to the first High Commissioner and paved the way to
the General Assembly in 1965 – a year before the establishment of the OHCHR…
the International Covenants on human rights.
Enayat Houshmand, a national of Iran, Enayat was respected and admired by his team, and by his colleagues
who had just completed a doctorate at and friends, including this author, for his professionalism, his
Columbia University, was hired to work diplomatic acumen, and his friendliness. He retired from the
with the Committee on the Elimination of UN during the tenure of the first High Commissioner with great
) Racial Discrimination (CERD). This was respect and appreciation from his colleagues. He retired from the
pioneering work. The Committee had the UN during the tenure of the first High Commissioner with great
function of considering reports from States respect and appreciation from his colleagues.
Parties on what they were doing to eliminate
racial discrimination, and of formulating Today, the implementation of international human rights treaties is
observations on the activities of States the bedrock of UN human rights activities, and Enayat Houshmand
Parties. pioneered the process of treaty implementation. He served the UN
with heart, and distinction, and his friends in the human rights
Important issues arose: rules of procedure had secretariat are proud to recall his distinguished service and his
to be prepared and adopted by the CERD; the leadership. He was a true human rights pioneer.
national reports had to be processed with care;
supplementary information could only be
provided to the CERD with great discretion;
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08.12.22 09:07