In a poignant plea, Iranian and international human rights organisations have called upon United Nations member states to renew the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran. They highlight the pressing human rights crisis in Iran, urging support for a robust investigative mechanism building on the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran (FFMI). This mechanism should seek to investigate serious violations and pursue accountability, ensuring evidence of such violations is preserved.
The FFMI and Special Rapporteur have revealed the dire reality within Iran, through consistent monitoring of human rights abuses spanning civil and social dimensions. The Special Rapporteur engages with Iranian authorities while bringing critical issues to the international community’s attention. Meanwhile, the FFMI investigates systemic causes of violations and establishes factual findings necessary for accountability, combatting the shameful impunity that pervades Iranian governance.
Following two years of dedicated inquiry into the state repression of the Woman Life Freedom movement, the FFMI has concluded that Iranian officials have engaged in crimes against humanity, including murder and torture. Alarmingly, ongoing violations against women, girls, and minorities persist, compounded by the authorities’ deliberate suppression of justice efforts—punishing victims and their advocates rather than seeking truth or reparations.
Moreover, the report highlights that the violent state repression witnessed is not a sporadic incident but rather a continuation of a longstanding oppressive pattern seen since 2017. This systemic violence against minority groups and dissenting voices extends beyond protests into everyday life, creating an environment of fear and repression.
Lastly, the FFMI’s findings illustrate a vicious cycle buoyed by impunity, where authorities repeat human rights abuses with confidence. Only by acknowledging this cycle and holding those responsible accountable can the relentless violations be halted. As such, a wider mandate for the investigative mechanism is crucial, seeking to scrutinise underlying patterns of abuse.
As member states prepare for the Human Rights Council’s next session, they are implored to reaffirm their commitment to human rights in Iran by supporting the renewal of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate and aiding the investigative mechanism. Victims and survivors must receive comprehensive support in their quest for justice, truth, and reparations, while calls for urgent intervention and condemnation of Iran’s ongoing rights violations must resonate loudly on the global stage.
Iranian and international human rights groups are urging UN member states to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iran amidst an escalating human rights crisis. They stress the importance of an independent investigative mechanism to address ongoing human rights violations and promote accountability, particularly concerning the treatment of women, minorities, and dissenters in the wake of the Woman Life Freedom protests.
The urgent call for the renewal of the UN Special Rapporteur’s mandate stems from the dire human rights situation in Iran. With multitudes still facing severe repression and impunity, it is imperative that the international community not only renews oversight mechanisms but also actively seeks accountability for systemic violations. The intertwined nature of oppression against various sectors of society necessitates a concerted global effort to ensure justice and the restoration of human rights in Iran.
Original Source: www.fidh.org
