United Nations Human Rights Council president Jürg Lauber has appointed South African legal expert Max du Plessis to the council’s Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran, replacing Shaheen Sardar Ali of Pakistan.
Du Plessis joins Sara Hossain of Bangladesh, who chairs the three-member panel, and Viviana Krsticevic of Argentina as the mission continues its investigation into alleged human rights violations in Iran, particularly those linked to the September 2022 protests, with a focus on women and children.
Established in November 2022 under Resolution S-35/1, the mission was mandated to collect and preserve evidence of violations and support potential legal proceedings.
Its scope was expanded in April 2025 to include monitoring ongoing abuses, with a final report due at the council’s 61st session in early 2026 and an oral update to be presented to the UN General Assembly’s 80th session.
Du Plessis brings extensive experience in international law, having served as an advocate at South Africa’s High Court since 2000 and held academic roles at institutions including the universities of Cape Town, Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard.
He has also contributed to global justice initiatives through the International Crime in Africa Programme and as a visiting expert at the International Criminal Court.
JN/APA