The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday, December 16, 2021, adopted the 68th resolution condemning human rights violations by the Iranian government.
The resolution passed with 78 votes in favor, 31 against, and 69 abstentions.
Earlier, a resolution condemning human rights abuses by the Iranian government was passed by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.
The 68th resolution condemning human rights abuses by the Iranian government was submitted by Canada to the United Nations and was supported by 47 other countries.
The 68th resolution condemning human rights violations by the Iranian government, the countless and alarming numbers of death sentences, widespread and systematic arrests, arbitrary detentions, deprivation of access to health care and medical services, ill-treatment of prisoners in various prisons across the country, harassment, and intimidation of human rights defenders, using the leverage of torture to obtain confessions and suspicious deaths of prisoners.
“It also expresses collective concern, calling on Iran to address the high rate of executions, improve prison conditions, cease restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, both offline and online, to end persecution of religious minorities and to investigate and ensure accountability for human rights violations.”
The 68th resolution condemning human rights violations in the Iranian government emphasizes the need for credible and independent investigations, as well as impartiality in response to all serious human rights violations by the regime’s government, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, and the elimination of evidence. It added that the immunity of Iranian officials from such acts should end, and they should be brought to justice.
“The resolution “Expresses serious concern at the alarmingly high frequency of the imposition and carrying-out of the death penalty,” “widespread and systematic use of arbitrary arrests and detentions,” “deliberately denying prisoners access to adequate medical treatment and supplies,” and “appalling acts committed by prison guards at Evin prison,” “harassment, intimidation, and persecution, including abductions, arrests, and executions, of political opponents, human rights defenders,” and “arbitrary arrest and detention, and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment against peaceful protesters,” and “the use of torture to extract confessions, and cases of suspicious deaths in custody.”
The 68th resolution condemned the regime’s human rights violations, also expressed concern about the ongoing use of the death penalty for persons under the age of 18, and calls on regime’s officials to stop the death sentences of persons under the age of law immediately.
The 68th resolution condemns the execution of child offenders committing crimes below the age of 18 and called it in violation of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and calls for its suspension.
“A draft resolution on human rights in Iran — approved by a recorded vote of 79 in favour to 30 against, with 71 abstentions — would express the Assembly’s serious concern at the alarmingly frequent use of the death penalty, including against minors. Among other provisions, it would urge Iran to end its use and commute the sentences for child offenders on death row.”
“Over 70 percent of executions of child offenders worldwide are carried out in Iran, including through the use of torture.”
The 68th while condemning human rights abuses by the Iranian government also calls on the regime’s government to end discrimination against religious minorities in Iran, including the Baha’is.
While welcoming the adoption of the 68th resolution, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said:
“While this resolution reflects only a small portion of the crimes of the ruling religious fascism in Iran, it, nevertheless, proves that this regime has always been the leading human rights violator in the world.
“The dossier on four decades of crimes against humanity and genocide committed by this regime, especially the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, mostly the members and supporters of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK/PMOI), and the massacre of 1,500 demonstrators in 2019, must be referred to the UN Security Council, and the leaders of this regime, and above all, Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, and the Judiciary Chief, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Eje’I, must be prosecuted in an International Court. The international community must shun this regime and end impunity for its criminal leaders.”
