UN General Assembly Approves Resolution on Human Rights Violations in Iran
The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly passed a resolution on human rights violations in Iran last evening with 85 votes in favor. The resolution was drafted by Canada and addresses an increase in executions, particularly executions of juveniles below the legal age and public executions, as well as the detention and torture of political and civil activists and dual citizens, disregard for women’s and children’s rights, and inmates’ lack of access to healthcare services.
In this resolution, the United Nations has called on Iran to hold its upcoming presidential elections freely in an “open” political atmosphere.
35 UN General Assembly members voted against the resolution, while 63 other members abstained from voting.
Countries including Cuba, North Korea, Pakistan, and Syria voted against the resolution.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry rejects the aforementioned resolution and has accused countries that have expressed concerns about human rights violations in Iran of colluding and conspiring against the Islamic Republic.
Bahram Qassemi, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, told domestic news agencies:
“The resolution, without considering the realities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has been drafted and passed solely based on a selective, confrontational approach and purely for specific political objectives.”
Canada’s representative, however, rejected such accusations and stated that the purpose of the UN human rights resolution against Iran is not political, but rather has been prepared and approved with the intention of enabling Iranians to benefit from their rights.
Britain has also emphasized the rule of law in Iran.
Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, Saudi Arabia’s representative, stated that contrary to customary practice, he voted for this resolution “for the sake of the Iranian people.”
However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has accused countries supporting the resolution of misusing UN mechanisms to pressure the Islamic Republic.
Source: Goya
