GGU Law Professor to Present Groundbreaking Research on Women’s Human Rights in Iran at Prestigious Junior Scholars Conference

Golden Gate University School of Law is proud to announce that Professor Delaram Farzaneh, SJD, has been selected to present her research at the 11th Annual Junior Scholars Conference hosted by the University of Michigan Law School on April 25–26, 2025. The highly regarded conference brings together emerging legal scholars from around the world to share their work and receive feedback from law faculty at University of Michigan, one of the world’s premier law schools. 

Professor Farzaneh’s paper, titled “Erosion of Women’s Rights in Iran Despite Longstanding United Nations’ Mandate of Special Rapporteur,” examines nearly four decades of United Nations human rights interventions in Iran, particularly the role of the Special Rapporteurs tasked with addressing gender-based violence and discrimination. Her work explores the effectiveness—and limitations—of these mechanisms in the face of continued non-cooperation by the Iranian government. 

“Despite the longstanding UN mandate, the deterioration of women’s human rights in Iran—especially following the ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement—is alarming more than ever before that requires continuous investigation of these serious human rights violations by the U.N. human rights mechanisms to preserve the evidence and uncover the truth,” said Professor Farzaneh. “My work aims to evaluate what international legal frameworks have achieved and where they continue to fall short.” 

Professor Farzaneh joined GGU Law in 2018 as a Professor of the Practice and currently serves as Faculty Director for GGU Worldwide’s upGrad programs and Director of both the Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) and the LLM in International Business and Finance Law programs. She brings a rich background in international law, with particular focus on gender justice, human rights law, and Middle Eastern legal systems. 

Her selection to present at the Junior Scholars Conference reflects GGU Law’s strong commitment to producing timely, globally relevant scholarship, and cultivating academic leadership in fields that matter deeply to the future of law and justice. 

This research will be of particular interest to international human rights lawyers, UN policy advisors, gender justice advocates, and legal scholars working on Middle Eastern legal systems and global accountability mechanisms. It offers both a historical perspective and critical insight into how international legal tools can be strengthened to better protect vulnerable populations. 

“We are thrilled to see Professor Farzaneh’s important work recognized on an international stage,” said Mark Yates, Dean of GGU’s School of Law. “Her scholarship not only reflects GGU’s values but also elevates the critical conversation about women’s rights and the role of global legal institutions.” 

To learn more about GGU Law’s graduate law programs, visit ggu.edu/school/school-of-law/.