UN Women’s Organization Calls for ‘Safe and Violence-Free Environment’ for Protesting Women in Iran
Following the expression of serious concern by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the suppression of protesters in Iran, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson and a special UN agency in the field of women have called for respect for the rights of protesters.
UN Women, which works in the field of gender equality and women’s empowerment, published a statement saying that this organization “stands alongside Iranian women in their rightful demands to protest injustice and for freedom in exercising bodily autonomy, including the choice of their own clothing.”
This UN agency has also expressed support for Iranian women in their fundamental human rights within the framework of the UN Charter.
In the statement by UN Women, Islamic Republic officials were asked to support Iranian women in exercising their full human rights and to provide a safe environment free from fear of violence, legal persecution, or harassment and abuse.
While expressing condolences to the family of Masha Amini, the agency, referring to a recent statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for an independent, urgent, and impartial investigation into Ms. Amini’s death, the public release of investigation findings, and the prosecution of all those responsible for her death.
Simultaneously, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, referring to Antonio Guterres’ recent meeting with Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, announced that Guterres emphasized the need to respect human rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, during this meeting.
The UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson wrote: “We are increasingly concerned about reports of increased casualties, including women and children, related to protests [in Iran].”
He also warned Islamic Republic security forces to avoid escalating tensions and using force against protesters, and called for swift, impartial, and effective investigations into Masha Amini’s death.
Earlier, Ebrahim Raisi claimed in New York that an investigation was underway, but civil activists and human rights organizations, given previous similar cases, question this claim by the Islamic Republic.
On Tuesday, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights based in Geneva, announced that in recent days thousands of people across Iran have joined anti-government protests, but security forces have used live ammunition against protesters in some cases.
Government media of the Islamic Republic reported on the second of Mehr that 41 people were killed, but civil organizations and human rights groups say the number of victims is much higher, some of whom are women and children, and hundreds more have been injured.
Immediately after Masha Amini’s death in morality police custody, Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur, announced that the UN Human Rights Council should pass a resolution condemning mandatory hijab in Iran.
Amnesty International also published a statement saying “Countering the deadly suppression of protests over Masha Amini’s death requires immediate global action.”
Source: Radio Farda
