Geneva, 24/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The UN Human Rights Committee adopted a resolution (21 in favour, 17 against and 15 abstentions) tabled by the European Union (backed in particular by the United States and several countries candidates for accession) expressing its concern for continued human rights violations in Iran. The resolution notably cites "the recent deterioration of the situation in the freedom of opinion and expression, and in particular attacks against press freedom, the imprisonment of journalists and "harsh reactions to student demonstrators", as well as the lack of respect of international standards in matters of justice, including "public and particularly cruel executions". The resolution, which criticises Iran for since 1996 having refused access to UN human rights experts to its territory, does however mention some positive developments, like the recent initiatives concerning the Bahai'is or women's education and health (see EUROPE of 20 April, p.6, for the adoption in Geneva of the motion of "non-action" which once more blocked the adoption of a resolution on human rights in China).