A/RES/56/171 (d) The positive developments regarding the situation of Iranian children in the fields of education, health and juvenile justice, as reported by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Special Representative; (e) The process of legal reform under way in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and encourages the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue this process; (f) The re-establishment of the Majilis Human Rights Commission, and expresses the hope that it will complement the work carried out by the Islamic Human Rights Commission to enhance the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran; (g) The public and serious debate, which is taking place within society and in the media, on the validity and utility of the imposition of public flogging and other harsh punishments; (h) The efforts of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in accepting and caring for large numbers of Afghan refugees; 2. Notes: (a) The commitment made by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to strengthen respect for human rights in the country and to promote the rule of law; (b) The assessment of the Special Representative that some improvements have taken place, inter alia, in such areas as women’s education; (c) The establishment of the National Committee for the Promotion of the Rights of Religious Minorities, and encourages the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to expedite its launching; 3. Expresses its concern: (a) At the continuing violations of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; (b) At the fact that, since 1996, no invitation has been extended by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Special Representative to visit the country; (c) At the continued deterioration of the situation with regard to freedom of opinion and expression, especially attacks against the freedom of the press, the imprisonment of journalists and members of Parliament, the harsh sentences imposed on those who participated in the Berlin conference or its preparation, 7 and the harsh reactions to student demonstrations, including the imprisonment and mistreatment of those who participated; (d) At the growing number of executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, and in particular deplores public and especially cruel executions, such as stoning; (e) At the still unsatisfactory compliance with international standards in the administration of justice, the absence of due process of law and the use of national security laws to deny the rights of the individual; _______________ 7 2 See A/56/278, paras. 53–58; see also E/CN.4/2001/39, paras. 88–94.