Misión Permanente de Costa Rica en Ginebra
55ª Sesión del Consejo de Derechos Humanos
Intervención conjunta – Joint Statement

Interactive Dialogue with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (HRC res. S-35/1)

15th of March, 2024
[check against delivery]

Thank you, Mr President,

I am delivering this statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of 5 countries. We thank the  Fact-Finding Mission for carrying out their invaluable work to investigate the alleged human rights violations that took place after the tragic death in custody of Mahsa Jina Amini and subsequent nationwide protests.

The FFM has recorded patterns of serious violations of human rights including the use of excessive and lethal force against protesters. The report also finds that violence against women and children was widespread throughout the security forces’ response to the protests. To suppress dissent, authorities resorted to disproportionate use of force, arbitrary arrests and detention, sexual and gender-based violence, torture of detainees, harassment of victim’s families, unfair trials and the execution of protesters. The report concludes that some of these acts may amount to crimes against humanity, including the crime against humanity of gender persecution. Perpetrators of these crimes must be held to account.

Mr President, the human rights situation in Iran has  worsened. We remain deeply concerned about the rights of women and girls. Women human rights defenders and journalists continue to be persecuted and silenced.  If adopted, the  "Bill to Support the Family by Promoting the Culture of Chastity and Hijab" will restrict women’s rights further;  a breach of the mandatory hijab will carry punishment of up to ten years in prison in addition to flogging, crushing fines, travel restrictions and deprivation of online access. 

We urge the Iranian authorities to take steps to eliminate this and all other forms of gender-based discrimination, end the cycle of violence, cease the suppression of protests, open civic space both online and offline to allow for dissenting voices,  and allow journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders to carry out their work freely. Impunity cannot continue, calls for justice cannot remain unanswered, accountability must prevail. 

Thank you.