20/12/2017

UN Voices Concern Over Iran’s Human Rights Record

The United Nations General Assembly voiced concern over the Islamic Republic of Iran’s human rights record once again this week, voting to adopt a resolution presented every year condemning a range of human rights violations in the country.

This is the fifteenth year in a row that the UN General Assembly, condemns Iranian government’s human rights record and calls on Iran to adopt long-awaited reforms to align its legislation and policies to some of the most fundamental human rights standards. The UN General Assembly expressed serious concern over a range of issues including the high number of executions in Iran and the ongoing severe restrictions placed on freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, amid acknowledgement of progress in other areas of concern.  This includes improvements in the number of women represented in government, attempts to reduce the country’s staggering execution rate – 483 as of end of November – and Iran’s efforts to host large numbers of Afghan refugees.

The resolution also “strongly urged” Iran to end its “discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to ethnic, linguistic or other minorities” both in law and in practice.

“The international community’s continued support for the rights of ethnic minorities in Iran gives us hope that the situation could one day improve” said Shahin Helali Khyavi, Director of the Association for Human Rights of the Azerbaijani People in Iran (Ahraz).

Eighty-one countries from all regions have voted in favor of a UN human rights resolution (A/C.3/72/L.41) on Iran on December 19, 2017. Thirty member-states voted against the decision, and seventy abstained. Most of the states opposing the resolution are states that have a general position of hostility towards resolutions on human rights in specific countries, in the name of national sovereignty or other principles.

“The call to ignore alarming human rights records in the name of national sovereignty goes against the very foundation of why the United Nations was established.” said Neda Shahidyazdani, UN Advocacy Officer for Impact Iran. “While some encouraging signs shows that the international community’s continued engagement on human rights in Iran is bearing some fruits, yesterday’s call from several UN experts to stay the execution of Dr. Ahmadreza Djalal, whose arrest and detention with charges of espionage have been found arbitrary, is a further indication that much remains to be done.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

(all times in EST)

02 04 23
  • World Autism Awareness Day

    02 04 23

03 04 23
  • HRC52: Iran Resolution Vote / Appt. of Mandate Holders

    03 04 23  6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

04 04 23
  • 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council: Closing

    04 04 23
    Geneva Switzerland

06 04 23
  • International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

    06 04 23

07 04 23
  • International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda

    07 04 23

  • World Health Day

    07 04 23

12 04 23
  • International Day of Human Space Flight

    12 04 23

20 04 23
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    20 04 23

21 04 23
  • World Creativity and Innovation Day

    21 04 23

22 04 23
  • International Mother Earth Day

    22 04 23

23 04 23
  • English Language Day

    23 04 23

  • Spanish Language Day

    23 04 23

    http://www.un.org/es/events/spanishlanguageday/

  • World Book and Copyright Day

    23 04 23

25 04 23
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    25 04 23

26 04 23
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    26 04 23

28 04 23
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    28 04 23

29 04 23
  • Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare

    29 04 23

30 04 23
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    30 04 23

02 05 23
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04 05 23
  • Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War

    04 05 23 - 05 05 23  

05 05 23
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10 05 23
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29 05 23
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01 06 23
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15 06 23
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17 06 23
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18 06 23
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19 06 23
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20 06 23
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  • International Day of Yoga

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  • United Nations Public Service Day

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25 06 23
  • Day of the Seafarer

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  • United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

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27 06 23
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29 06 23
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30 06 23
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01 07 23
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11 07 23
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15 07 23
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18 07 23
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28 07 23
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30 07 23
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  • World Day against Trafficking in Persons

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