The United Nations Human Rights Council met on Thursday to debate the deteriorating scenario within the Islamic Republic of Iran, significantly relating to girls and kids.
In his opening remarks, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk spoke of the homicide of Mahsa (Zina) Amini in September, when she was killed within the custody of the nation’s “morality police, or hijab police,” sparking nationwide riots. Here’s an summary of what is been taking place since mid-2011. Oppose the institution.
The thirty fifth particular session of the Human Rights Council was held following an official request submitted by Germany and Iceland on 11 November and supported by greater than 40 different nations.
Mr. Turkey condemned the killing of protesters as a part of the crackdown on the opposition and the dearth of accountability for perpetrators of atrocities towards the inhabitants. He additionally expressed concern concerning the “pointless and unjustified” use of pressure towards demonstrators, the excessive variety of arrests and the loss of life sentences handed all the way down to demonstrators. He stated “safety forces… used reside ammunition, hen shot, different steel projectiles, tear fuel and batons.”
“The previous methods and fortress mentality of those that wield energy merely don’t work. In reality, they solely make the scenario worse. We are actually in a full-blown human rights disaster,” stated the High Commissioner for Human Rights. “The pointless and unjustified use of pressure should finish. We urge governments and people in energy to hear.”
Volker Turk, newly appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, throughout a press convention on the Palais Wilson in Geneva, November 2, 2022.
He additionally criticized the Islamic Republic’s efforts to delegitimize protesters and label them enemies and overseas brokers, saying: “It’s a handy narrative. As we have seen all through historical past, this “It’s a traditional story of tyranny,” he added.
Jaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the scenario of human rights in Iran, was subsequent to take the stage and spoke concerning the dire scenario. “Structural impunity fuels a widespread sample of illegal killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and different human rights violations in Iran,” he stated, calling on the Security Council to “set up an impartial investigative mechanism on Iran. ” he requested.
“Both the president and the legal professional basic have emphasised the necessity to act relentlessly and violently towards protesters,” he stated.
Tehran’s consultant referred to as the controversy shameful and appalling, earlier than talking concerning the human rights scenario in different nations, together with Yemen, Palestinian girls and even indigenous peoples in Canada. She went on to checklist statistics relating to the variety of girls in numerous professions in Iran, similar to judges and sports activities coaches, which doesn’t appear to be true for Iranian residents on social media.
Security Council member states and observers talking later within the session condemned the regime’s repression and referred to as for a moratorium on the loss of life penalty. They condemned the violence and restrictions on individuals’s web entry.
Tehran’s allies, together with Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea and China, sided with the Islamic Republic and expressed opposition to the convention and any resolutions towards it.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Verbock stated: “We are actually proposing the institution of an impartial and neutral United Nations mechanism to research these human rights violations and maintain these accountable to account.” Because it obstructs justice. Justice for sisters. Justice for my sons. Justice for the mom. ”
She then referred to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a celebration, referring to Article 19, the precise to carry opinions with out interference. Article 21, the precise to peaceable meeting; Article 2, respecting the rights of all individuals with out distinction of any form, together with gender; ”
Council members are anticipated to undertake a decision aimed toward holding the Islamic Republic accountable, and the Islamic Republic is lobbying towards the movement and despatched a delegation to Geneva earlier this month to advise nations. We encourage everybody to vote towards the decision.
In one other international motion over Iran’s denial of girls’s rights and crackdown on protests, calls are rising for the United Nations to expel the Islamic Republic from the UN Commission on the Status of Women, together with Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands. , the United States is behind this fee. push. The Geneva-based impartial non-governmental human rights group UN Watch has drafted a decision calling on the 54-member UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to exclude Iran.