HUGE: The UN Human Rights Council has voted to create a fact-finding mission to investigate human rights violations in Iran "related to the protests that began on 16 September 2022."#MahsaAmini #IranRevolution2022 #IranProtests #مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/r9RHQp1Cg5
— Adrienne Mahsa Varkiani (@AdrienneMahsa) November 24, 2022
UN Human Rights Council Votes For Fact-Finding Mission Into Protests In Iran
The UN Human Rights Council has passed a motion to set up a fact-finding mission to look into the mass protests in Iran that have taken place over the past two months, following the death in custody of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in Tehran on September 16
The meeting had been convened at the request of Germany and Iceland to discuss the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.
- The meeting was addressed at the start by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk who said "We have seen waves of protests over the past years, calling for justice, equality, dignity and respect for human rights. They have been met with violence and repression. We are now in a full-fledged human rights crisis."
Turk said there had reportedly been protests in "over 150 cities and 140 universities in all 31 provinces of Iran" since mid-September and that "a conservative estimate of the death toll so far stands at over 300, including at least 40 children."
- Around 14,000 people, including children, have been arrested in the context of the protests.
Iran's representative argued against the motion and heavily criticized the European countries which had called the meeting.
- In her address to the council, Iran's Khadijeh Karimi said "the political motivated move of Germany to distort the situation of human rights in Iran is an orchestrated ploy for ulterior motives which would lead nowhere, but to drive the Human Rights Council from its genuine mandate."
I am delighted to note that the UN Human Rights Council strongly deplored the violent crackdown on peaceful protests resulting in the death of hundreds of people, including dozens of children, and a disproportionate number of persons belonging to minorities, and the arrest of thousands in connection with the nation-wide protests following the death in custody of Jina Mahsa Amini on 16 September 2022.
ReplyDeleteThe UN Human Rights Council also established an independent, international fact-finding mission to thoroughly and independently investigate alleged human rights violations in Iran by a vote of 25 in favour, six against and 16 abstentions. I am glad Nepal voted in favour of the resolution. Those opposing or abstaining in the vote were the usual suspects who also voted along the same lines in condemning the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine in the UN General Assembly.
It was good to see the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk making a strong statement urging Iran to stop violence against peaceful protesters, calling for the release of all those arrested and to impose a moratorium on the death penalty.
I was proud of OHCHR. Hope UNICEF too will speak out strongly considering that dozens of children have been arrested and some sentenced to death, in total disregard of Iran's obligations under the CRC and other principles of human rights.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2022/11/human-rights-council-establishes-fact-finding-mission-investigate-alleged-human-rights
Thanks Kul for caring!
ReplyDeleteI wrote to the Ex.Director and never heard back sadly.
I also wrote to the RD and did not hear back.
I have been in touch with the Representative in Iran and he has always kindly responded saying they won’t condemn these actions to keep their office and programme going. I don’t agree needless to say.
I have tried to share with others too but have not heard much more as of yet, sadly.
As a Professor of Human Rights and Development Studies now at York U, we talk about the Human Rights Mechanisms of the UN and the situation in Iran a lot. Young people are interested for sure.
Also our Iranian diaspora in Toronto is very active as you might know and one of the current exiled leaders, Hamed Esmaelion, who lost his wife and daughter on Flight 752 is Toronto based and many other activists.
Looking forward to more exchanges.
Respectfully, Niloufar
On the question of UNICEF not speaking up, today in an interview on CNN an Iranian doctor who has been participating in the demonstrations mentioned his disappointment in the UN and in UNICEF for not clearly condemning the government's actions.
ReplyDelete