UN Human Rights Council at Special Session condems crackdown in Iran

The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today condemned the authorities in Iran for their recent crackdown on protesters in a resolution passed during a Special Session on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. Iceland led the call for a Special Session and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, addressed the session today.

“We must stand firmly with the people of Iran,” said minister Gunnarsdóttir in her address, asking for a strong outcome in the vote on the resolution in the Council. “We owe it to the brave people of Iran peacefully demanding dignity, justice and freedom.”

Iceland led the call for a Special Session through a joint request by the core group of countries in the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in Iran. The core group is made up of the Federal Republic of Germany, North-Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, along with Iceland. The core group drafted the resolution on the deteriorating situation of human rights in Iran which was supported by 25 member states against 7. 14 member states abstained.

In its resolution today, the Human Rights Council condemned the authorities’ violent response to the protests that began on 28 December which has led to the deaths of thousands of individuals, including many children. Thousands more have been arrested, and in many cases denied contact with their closest relatives. The Council emphasized that the authorities’ prolonged disruptions of internet access and communications violate international human rights law and prevent the gathering of information about human rights abuses. The Human Rights Council also expressed concern about the authorities’ repeated use of violence against their own citizens in recent years.

The Human Rights Council urges the Iranian authorities to put an end to unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, gender-based violence and torture, and to cease threats against protesters and their families. It calls on the authorities to fully respect freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association, and to immediately restore nationwide internet connectivity.

Furthermore, the resolution extends the mandates of the independent international Fact-Finding Mission for two years and the Special Rapporteur on Iran for one year. The resolution further requests urgent investigations into alleged serious human rights violations linked to the protests and calls for full cooperation by Iranian authorities to ensure accountability and prevent impunity. 

Full statement of Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdóttir.