Statement by human rights organizations on the necessity of providing a Covid vaccine to Iran
We, the human rights and humanitarian organizations signing this statement, call on all parties to ensure that the people of Iran have unhindered, rapid, and equitable access to a safe, effective, and affordable COVID-19 vaccine. We specifically urge the US government to assure financial institutions that they will not be subject to US sanctions for facilitating the transfer of Iranian currency to purchase vaccines. We urge the Iranian government to use its financial resources, distribute vaccines fairly and transparently, and combat the pandemic in accordance with the Due Diligence Process.
Iran has faced one of the first and worst waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Iranian authorities have repeatedly failed to contain the virus, which has sickened more than a million people and killed more than 50,000. They have also cited the country’s economic weakness as a reason to refrain from taking decisions such as closing businesses to keep people safe. As the production and distribution of a COVID vaccine begins, it is crucial that the Iranian people do not face restrictions stemming from economic sanctions that could put more lives at risk. A rapid and equitable vaccination campaign is the best way to protect vulnerable populations from the virus.
US sanctions on Iran appear to be preventing money from being transferred to the World Health Organization’s COVAX organization, the Vaccine Alliance, which is supposed to manage the global distribution of vaccines. The governor of Iran’s Central Bank, Abdolnaser Hemmati, said on social media that South Korean banks hosting frozen Iranian funds were refusing to guarantee transfers to COVAX because they were concerned that the money would be seized by the US government. According to Reuters, South Korea’s foreign ministry also cited the need for special US authorization for transfers to the Swiss-run Humanitarian Trade Channel.
Iran has received a license from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) that exempts payments to COVAX partners, such as UNICEF, from sanctions. OFAC has also issued a general license to exempt medicines and humanitarian goods. However, the reluctance of financial institutions to carry out such financial transactions makes it necessary to provide additional guarantees from the U.S. government.
To ensure Iran has access to the necessary funds to purchase vaccines in coordination with COVAX, the U.S. government should provide public assurances and confirmations to financial institutions and humanitarian financing mechanisms that transactions for this purpose will not be blocked or penalized. Failure to do so within a reasonable time would place Iran at an unequal position with other countries seeking vaccines and perpetuate a deadly health crisis.
The Iranian government should consider the Special Care Project reports for vaccine procurement and distribution, as is the case with the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA) and other humanitarian financial mechanisms. The government should use its resources to protect the right to health of the people and make every effort to ensure that safe, effective and affordable vaccines are available to as many people as possible as soon as possible. Decisions on vaccine allocation should be based on transparency, public health assessments, internationally accepted practices, taking into account vulnerable groups, and should not result in discriminatory or preferential treatment.
Abdolrahman Boroumand Foundation
Christian Peacemaker Teams
Common Humanity
Episcopal Peace Fellowship
Fellowship of Reconciliation , USA
People's Movement for Global Justice
Human Rights Activists in Iran
Imagining Transnational Solidarities Research Circle
World Federation of Human Rights Societies
Iranian Human Rights Documentation Center
Mennonite Central Committee , Washington Office
Shomeret Shalom Global Congregation
Transbalkan Solidarity ( Transbalkanska Solidarnost)
Source: Human Rights Campaign
