London, 2 April 2024 – A group of 77 current and former United Nations special procedure mandate-holders and commissioners and experts of UN-mandated investigative bodies on Tuesday wrote to the President of the Human Rights Council and the Council’s Member and Observer States, supporting the renewal of the mandates of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran.
“Impunity and the absence of accountability for serious human rights violations remain a significant and recurrent feature of Iran’s political landscape. We believe this impunity stems in part from the failure to hold Iranian officials accountable for their involvement in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners,” the UN experts said in an open letter.
Signatories include 65 current and former UN Special Procedures.
The experts urged Member States of the Human Rights Council to vote in favour of resolution A/HRC/55/L.6, extending the mandates of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran and the FFMI for a period of one year.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PROFILES OF THE SIGNATORIES
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Open Letter
To the Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council
2 April 2024
Excellencies,
Re: Extension of the mandates of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran and the FFMI
We, the undersigned current and former United Nations special procedure mandate-holders and commissioners and experts of UN-mandated investigative bodies, strongly support the renewal of the mandates of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFMI).
We are deeply concerned at the ongoing executions and spike in death penalty sentences observed in Iran in the past year. At least 834 people were executed in 2023, a 43 percent increase compared to 2022, according to the Special Rapporteur on Iran. Those executed included at least 22 women and at least one child. Since the start of nationwide protests in September 2022, the Iranian authorities have executed at least nine men for their involvement in the protests.
Impunity and the absence of accountability for serious human rights violations remain a significant and recurrent feature of Iran’s political landscape. We believe this impunity stems in part from the failure to hold Iranian officials accountable for their involvement in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners.
As reiterated by the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran at a civil society hearing organised by Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI) in Geneva on 15 February 2024, the 1988 extra-judicial executions and enforced disappearances constitute ongoing crimes against humanity.
We support the call by the Special Rapporteur on Iran for the establishment of international accountability mechanisms with respect to long-standing emblematic events that have been met with persistent impunity, including the enforced disappearances and summary and arbitrary executions which took place in 1981 and 1988 and the protests of November 2019.
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iran has been a platform for highlighting and reporting serious human rights violations and abuses conducted by governmental authorities. It must continue to be the voice of millions of Iranians, who are targeted, victimised, and abused and whose fundamental rights are violated persistently and with impunity.
In its first report to the Human Rights Council made public in March 2024, the FFMI stated that violent repression of peaceful protests and pervasive institutional discrimination against women and girls has led to serious human rights violations by the Government of Iran, many amounting to crimes against humanity.
The FFMI report said violations and crimes under international law committed in the context of the protests that began in 2022 include extra-judicial and unlawful killings and murder, unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and gender persecution. Authorities are now doubling down on their repression of families of victims, journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers, medical doctors, and many others simply for expressing their views, supporting the protesters, or seeking truth and justice for victims.
State authorities at the highest levels have encouraged, sanctioned, and endorsed human rights violations through statements justifying the acts and conduct of the security forces. They engaged in a disinformation campaign depicting protesters as “rioters”, “foreign agents” and or “separatist” groups, according to the FFMI. The FFMI has also received testimonies that detainees were offered reduced punishment if they stated that their injuries were caused by opposition groups.
The authorities in Iran have prevented and obstructed efforts of victims and their families to obtain a remedy and reparation. Victims face a justice system lacking independence, transparency and accountability, the Fact-Finding Mission found.
It is time to challenge the ongoing atrocities in Iran. Owing to the critical work of both the Special Rapporteur on Iran and the FFMI, we urge Member States of the Human Rights Council to vote in favour of resolution A/HRC/55/L.6, extending both mandates for a period of one year.
Sincerely,
SIGNED:
Prof. Fabián Salvioli – (Argentina)
UN Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice and Reparation (2018-present)
Clément Nyaletsossi Voule – (Togo)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association (2018-present)
Dr. Matthew Gillett – (New Zealand)
Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (2022-present)
Dr. Ganna Yudkivska – (Ukraine)
Vice-Chair/Member of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (2022-present); former Judge, European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
Dr. Ana Brian Nougrères – (Uruguay)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy (2021-present)
Prof. David R. Boyd – (Canada)
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment (2018-present)
Prof. Balakrishnan Rajagopal – (United States)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing (2020-present)
Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana – (Uganda)
UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order (2018-present)
Chris M. A. Kwaja – (Nigeria)
Member of the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries (2018-present)
Prof. Bina D’Costa – (Australia and Bangladesh)
Member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (2023-present)
Miriam Ekiudoko – (Hungary)
Member, UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (2021-present)
Catherine S. Namakula – (Uganda)
Member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (2021-present)
Dominique Day – (United States)
Member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (2018-present)
Dr. Agnès Callamard – (France)
UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions (2016-2021)
Prof. Ahmed Shaheed – (Maldives)
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran (2011-2016); UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief (2016-2022); Member, Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (2022-present); Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives (2005-2007 & 2008-2010)
Prof. Heiner Bielefeldt – (Germany)
UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief (2010-2016)
Prof. Yakin Ertürk – (Turkey)
UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women (2003-2009)
Prof. Manfred Nowak – (Austria)
Former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (2004-2010); Secretary General of the Global Campus of Human Rights
Prof. Annalisa Ciampi – (Italy)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association (2017); Ad hoc Judge, European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
Gabriela Knaul – (Brazil)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (2009-2015)
Prof. Juan E. Méndez – (Argentina)
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (2010-2016); Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide (2004-2007); former President, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR); Commissioner, International Commission of Jurists (2017-present)
Prof. François Crépeau – (Canada)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants (2011-2017)
Michel Forst – (France)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders (2014-2020); UN Independent Expert on Haiti (2008-2013)
Maud De Boer-Buquicchio – (The Netherlands)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children (2014-2020); former Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Anand Grover – (India)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health (2008-2014)
Prof. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin KC (Hons) – (Ireland)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism (2017-2023)
Dainius Pūras – (Lithuania)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health (2014-2020); Chairman of the Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council (2018-2019)
Prof. Miklós Haraszti – (Hungary)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus (2012-2018)
Marzuki Darusman – (Indonesia)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (2010-2016); Chair, UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (2017-2019); Member, UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea (2013-2014); Chair of the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka (2010-2011); Attorney General of Indonesia (1999-2001)
Prof. Gerard Quinn – (Ireland)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2020-2023)
Alice Cruz – (Portugal)
UN Special Rapporteur on Discrimination against Persons with Leprosy (2017-2023)
Prof. Shaista Shameem – (Fiji)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Use of Mercenaries (2004-2005); former Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries
Prof. Michael Lynk – (Canada)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories (2016-2022)
Prof. John Dugard – (South Africa)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories (2001–2008); Member of the International Law Commission (1997–2011)
Prof. Jean Ziegler – (Switzerland)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food (2000-2008); former Vice-President of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee
Prof. Urmila Bhoola – (South Africa)
UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (2014-2020)
Prof. Fernand de Varennes – (Canada)
UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues (2017-2023)
Dr. Chaloka Beyani – (Zambia)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (2010-2016); Member, UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya (2020-2023)
Dr. Ian Fry – (Tuvalu)
UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change (2022-2023)
Prof. Joseph A. Cannataci – (Malta)
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy (2015-2021)
Baskut Tuncak – (Turkey)
UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights (2014-2020)
Prof. Christian Tomuschat – (Germany)
Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Commission on the Human Rights Situation in Guatemala (1990-1993); President of the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration (2013-2019); Member of the UN Human Rights Committee (1977-1986); Member and Chairman of the UN International Law Commission (1985-1996)
Prof. Robert K. Goldman – (United States)
UN Independent Expert on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism (2004-2005); President, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ); former President, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)
Adama Dieng – (Senegal)
UN Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Haiti (1995-2001); UN Under Secretary-General and Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide (2012-2020)
Prof. Gay McDougall – (United States)
UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues (2005-2011); Member, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
Dr. Suliman Baldo – (Sudan)
UN Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Mali (2013-2018)
Prof. Alfred De Zayas – (United States)
UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order (2012-2018)
Prof. Hatem Kotrane – (Tunisia)
UN Independent Expert to Examine the Question of a Draft Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2001-2006); Member and Vice Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2003-2013)
Bahame T. Nyanduga – (Tanzania)
UN Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Somalia (2014-2020)
Luciano Hazan – (Argentina)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) (2017-2023); Member of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) (2011-2017)
Prof. Jeremy Sarkin – (South Africa)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) (2008-2014)
Houria Esslami – (Morocco)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) (2014-2020)
Prof. Ariel E. Dulitzky – (Argentina)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) (2010-2017)
Santiago Corcuera-Cabezut – (Mexico)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) (2004-2009); Chair/Member of the UN Committee against Enforced Disappearances (CED) (2013-2017); Chair of the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council (2009-2010)
Prof. Stephen J Toope – (Canada)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) (2002-2008)
Alda M. Facio – (Costa Rica)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls (2014-2020)
Elizabeth Broderick – (Australia)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls (2017-2023)
Prof. Mads Andenas – (Norway)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (2009-2015)
Dr. Jelena Aparac – (Croatia)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries (2018-2023)
Prof. Ricardo A. Sunga III – (Philippines)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (2014-2021)
Mireille Fanon Mendes France – (France)
Chair-Rapporteur and Member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (2011-2017)
Dr. Jasminka Džumhur – (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Former Vice-Chair of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID); former Vice-Chair of the UN Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW)
Prof. Soledad Villagra – (Paraguay)
Member, UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (2002-2008)
Sètondji Roland Adjovi – (Benin)
Member, UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (2014-2020)
Henrikas Mickevičius – (Lithuania)
Member, UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) (2015-2022)
Kamala Chandrakirana – (Indonesia)
Member, UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women in Law and Practice (2010-2017)
Yasmin Sooka – (South Africa)
Chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (present)
Mike Smith – (Australia)
Chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea (2014-2016); Chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights (2004); Assistant Secretary-General of the UN in New York and Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (2007-2013)
Prof. William A. Schabas – (Canada)
Chair of the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict (2014-2015)
Hon. Richard J. Goldstone – (South Africa)
Chair of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (2009-2010); former Chief Prosecutor of the UN International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda
Sonja Biserko – (Serbia)
Member, UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (2013-2014)
Susan Bazilli – (Canada)
UN Expert, OHCHR Examination of the Human Rights Situation in Belarus
Prof. Monika Płatek – (Poland)
UN Expert, OHCHR Examination of the Human Rights Situation in Belarus
Prof. Alexandro Álvarez – (Chile)
UN Expert, Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (2022-2023)
Prof. David M. Crane – (United States)
Former Member, UN Commission of Inquiry on the 2018 Protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; Founding Chief Prosecutor, UN Special Court for Sierra Leone
Melissa Parke – (Australia)
Member, UN Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen (2017–2021)
Prof. Ardi Imseis – (Canada)
Member, UN Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen (2019–2021)
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