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United Nations

General Statement (after adoption): Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 20 November 2024

Statement by David Hamer, Adviser, Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations
As delivered

Thank you Madam Chair,

Australia thanks Canada, as penholder, for its continued leadership of this resolution.

This resolution aims to reflect the current human rights situation in Iran without prejudice.

We commend Canada for ensuring the resolution remains evidence-based by drawing heavily from independent and credible reports by the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, the UN Secretary-General, and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran. We call on Iran to grant access to the Special Rapporteur and the Fact-Finding Mission to further support their mandates, provide transparency, and facilitate accountability on human rights concerns.

Australia remains deeply concerned by the dire human rights situation in Iran, particularly Iran’s persecution of women and girls, oppression of ethnic and religious minorities, use of arbitrary detention, and transnational repression of journalists and political opponents abroad.

We echo the concern the resolution expresses at the use of harassment and intimidation to silence individuals who call out the human rights violations of the Government of Iran, including brave human rights defenders and their families.

Australia is gravely disturbed by Iran's extensive and persistent use of the death penalty, especially reports of an alarming increase in executions in recent months.

We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, for all people, and we call on Iran to cease executions and establish a moratorium on the death penalty.

Chair,

Country-specific resolutions in this Committee do not impede sovereignty.

No country is above fair scrutiny of its human rights obligations.

And no country, including my own, has a perfect human rights record.

Our commitments, as outlined in the UN Charter, include achieving international co-operation in solving international problems, including to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction.

We can only achieve this through transparency, openness, and accountability.

For these reasons, Australia is pleased to once again co-sponsor and vote in favour of the resolution ‘Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran’.

We call on all Member States to support this important resolution and demonstrate commitment to transparency, openness, and accountability to protect and promote human rights in Iran.

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