President Hassan Rouhani said he would make it his priority to proceed with his plans to promote social justice and uphold citizens' rights, if he wins a second term.
"In my current term and if the nation trusts me again in the next term, my main concern always has been and will be the nation's rights … Under the constitution, people enjoy various rights to freedom in political, social and cultural domains … which must be respected," the president said in a talk with state-run Jam-e-Jam TV on Wednesday.
He unveiled the final version of the Charter on Citizens' Rights late last year to raise public awareness on their rights.
The document, which commits government bodies to ensure the enforcement of its 120 articles, was intended to fulfill one of Rouhani's 2013 electoral pledges to clearly delineate, promote and defend the rights of citizens.
In the TV program, Rouhani reiterated another electoral vow to make social justice the plank of his economic reform policies.
"My second major concern would be the livelihood of people, especially those who are grappling with poverty and many other problems. We should strive to establish real social justice in people's life," he said.
Rouhani has acknowledged that he has not been able to generate as many jobs as he promised during his first election campaign.
He has now filed for reelection in the presidential poll—scheduled for May 19.
The president's challengers have railed against Rouhani's economic plans, which they say have plunged the domestic economy deeper into recession and widened the gap between the rich and the poor.
Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, custodian of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH), Ebrahim Raeisi, and ex-culture minister Mostafa Mirsalim are the conservative candidates and Rouhani, Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri and former industries minister, Mostafa Hashemitaba, represent the camp of reformists and moderates in the presidential race.
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