57th session of the Human Rights Council
Item 8 general debate. Joint Statement - Human rights of women in Iran.
2nd of October, 2024
Mr. President,
I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of over 50 states.
The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) stresses the importance of eliminating gender-based violence against women and girls in public and private life, all forms of sexual harassment, exploitation and trafficking in women, and the elimination of gender bias in the administration of justice.
Two years ago, the tragic death while in custody of Jina Mahsa Amini led to an unprecedented movement in the Islamic Republic of Iran, that was violently repressed by the Iranian authorities.
The Fact-Finding Mission on Iran concluded this year that the crime against humanity of persecution on the ground of gender has been committed in the repression of the Women Life Freedom movement. Victims and their families have a right to truth and to justice, there must be accountability for all violations.
Mr. President,
Two years on, the repression continues through other forms.Patrols of the morality police and other law-enforcement agencies have intensified in the past few months, and have been marked by an increasingly violent crackdown on women and girls deemed non-compliant of compulsory veiling laws. This must stop.
Suppression of freedom of expression online and offline and crackdown on social media users have also intensified. Relatives of victims seeking truth and justice are facing harassment. Scores of human rights defenders remain in prison, including 2023 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi and other women human rights defenders.
Some of these women human rights defenders are facing capital charges while two were sentenced to death in July. Iran must end these arbitrary detentions and repeal these sentences.
We are also deeply alarmed by the latest increase in reported executions, with an average of three executions per day in August. The death penalty must not be used as an instrument to instil fear within the population and chill dissent. We call on Iran to immediately halt all executions.
Thank you.