EU General Comment - United Nations 3rd Committee: Situation of Human Rights in Iran

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Croatia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Country of the Stabilization and Association Process and Potential Candidate Montenegro, as well as the Republic of Moldova, align themselves with this statement.

The European Union welcomes the adoption, by this Third Committee of the General Assembly, of the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, contained in document A/C.3/62/L.43.

The EU has voted in favor of draft resolution L.43 because we are convinced that the international community cannot remain silent in situations where human rights violations are continuous, grave and widespread, and the countries in question do not demonstrate any willingness to address the situations or to engage in meaningful dialogue. All countries - large or small - should be held accountable for fulfilling their obligations.

The situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran meets these criteria. The people of the Islamic Republic of Iran continue to suffer ongoing and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the Iranian Government has failed to implement the steps called for in previously adopted resolutions on the situation of human rights in the country. No Special Procedure has been able to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran since July 2005, and the Iranian Government has not implemented the recommendations of the mechanisms which visited before.

Mr. Chairman,

Well documented and reliable data collected by various missions and non-governmental organizations indicate an aggravation of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran over the last year. Human rights violations occurring in this country, on a systematic basis, include the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; public executions, collective executions and other executions carried out in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, including executions by stoning and the execution of juvenile offenders; persistent violations of the human rights of women and of persons belonging to religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minorities; a campaign against women's rights defenders; and violations of the freedoms of expression, assembly and opinion, and of due process of law guarantees.

The European Union also continues to be concerned about the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran with regards to continued discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. We urge Iran to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens regardless of sex, gender, religion, ethnicity, belief, and sexual orientation.

Mr. Chairman,

By adopting draft resolution L.43, the General Assembly Third Committee has demonstrated the firm stance of the international community against the systematic violation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and showed its support to the victims, the Iranian people. We believe that, when it comes to addressing the human rights situations in individual countries, constructive dialogue is what we all seek. The European Union hopes that the adoption of this draft resolution and the implementation of the recommendations contained therein will open new avenues for cooperation, and will contribute to the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all Iranians.


Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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• Le Parlement appelle l'Iran à rétablir la transparence de son programme nucléaire (31/1/2008)
• "Iran" - Speech by EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner (25/10/2007)
• Iran: EU Presidency Declaration on freedom of expression (23/10/2007)
• Iran: EU Presidency Declaration on execution sentence on Mr Ali Mahin Torabi (16/10/2007)
• EU Council Conclusions on Iran (16/10/2007)