In September 2024, Mai Sato, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, delivered her first report to the General Assembly. This report provides a comprehensive vision and outlines the key priorities for her mandate. It also reflects on the responses from the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the international scrutiny of its human rights record. This article will analyze the key aspects of Sato’s report, her identified priorities, and the broader context in which these issues unfold.
The Mandate and Iran’s Responses
The mandate given to the Special Rapporteur was established by the Human Rights Council in resolution A/HRC/RES55/19. Sato, who began her role in August 2024, has the responsibility of monitoring, investigating, and reporting on human rights violations in Iran. Her report emphasizes the dual approach of addressing the obligations of the Iranian government (referred to as the “duty bearer”) and advocating for the rights of Iranian citizens (the “rights holders”).
Iran’s response to the mandate has been notably defensive. The Iranian government, as noted in the report, has repeatedly expressed its commitment to upholding human rights, highlighting what it perceives as substantial progress in this area. However, it has also criticized what it sees as the imposition of “Western values” by international human rights institutions. According to Iran, such demands often conflict with Islamic standards and principles, which govern the country. Despite this, Sato has called on Iran to engage more openly with the mandate and to allow access to the country, a request that has been repeatedly denied since 2011.
Key Priorities: Transparency, Gender, and the Right to Life
Sato’s report identifies three key priority areas that will guide her work during the mandate: data transparency and the right to truth, a gendered approach with an intersectional lens, and the right to life. These areas are informed by the persistent human rights violations in Iran, including the suppression of freedom of expression, gender-based discrimination, and the alarming increase in executions.
Data Transparency and the Right to Truth
One of the fundamental challenges in assessing human rights in Iran is the lack of transparent, reliable data. The report stresses that this lack of data makes it difficult to measure progress or deterioration in human rights protection. Since the reestablishment of the mandate in 2011, no Special Rapporteur has been granted access to Iran, with the last such visit occurring in 1996. The lack of access, combined with reprisals against victims and human rights defenders who report violations, creates an environment where transparency is severely hindered. Sato emphasizes that access to data and truth is a basic right under international human rights law, and her mandate will focus on advocating for greater transparency from the Iranian government.
Gender and Intersectionality
The treatment of women in Iran has long been a point of concern, but the situation has worsened in recent years, particularly following the rise of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. The report highlights the state’s use of lethal force and arbitrary detentions in response to this movement, especially targeting women and human rights defenders. One of the most pressing issues in this context is the Chastity and Hijab Bill, which reinforces mandatory public veiling for women and girls. Sato acknowledges Iran’s position, which frames the hijab as a form of protection for women, but she argues that imposing such laws violates women’s autonomy and their right to participate in society freely.
Sato’s mandate will adopt a gendered approach, recognizing the disproportionate impact of human rights abuses on women, particularly ethnic, religious, and gender minorities. She notes that gender equality is not just about women’s rights but is also crucial for broader social and economic development. Moreover, Iran’s continued failure to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and its dismal ranking in the Global Gender Gap Index—143rd out of 146 countries—underscore the need for urgent action in this area.
The Right to Life
Perhaps the most alarming issue raised in the report is the increase in executions in Iran, with at least 93 individuals executed in August 2024 alone. Many of these executions are for drug-related offenses, which, under international law, do not meet the threshold for “most serious crimes” that warrant the death penalty. The Iranian government’s broad application of the death penalty, including for vaguely defined crimes such as “spreading corruption on earth” and “waging war against God,” violates international human rights standards.
Sato argues that violations of the right to life often reflect broader systemic failures, including inadequate legal protections, torture, and the suppression of civil and political rights. Her mandate will focus on investigating these violations and advocating for accountability and justice for the victims.
Iran’s Broader Human Rights Landscape
The report also touches on a range of other human rights issues that remain unresolved in Iran. These include the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, the lack of independence in the judiciary, the use of torture and cruel treatment of detainees, and the repression of human rights defenders and civil society actors.
Despite some legal reforms, such as amendments to the Islamic Penal Code in 2013 and revisions to the Law for Combating Illicit Drugs in 2017, there has been limited progress in addressing these deep-seated issues. The continuation of systemic human rights violations over the past 40 years, dating back to Andres Aguilar’s report in 1984, highlights the entrenched nature of these problems.
A Call for International Cooperation
Sato’s report concludes with a call for greater international cooperation in addressing the human rights situation in Iran. She encourages member states, civil society, and UN agencies to support her mandate and to engage with Iran in a constructive dialogue. She also calls on Iran to allow unhindered access to the country for the Special Rapporteur and other human rights mechanisms, emphasizing that such cooperation is essential for building trust and advancing human rights in Iran.
Conclusion
Mai Sato’s first report as the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran outlines a clear and focused agenda for addressing the most pressing human rights issues in the country. Her emphasis on transparency, gender equality, and the right to life provides a roadmap for her mandate, while also highlighting the challenges posed by Iran’s resistance to international scrutiny. As the international community continues to monitor the situation in Iran, Sato’s report serves as a crucial document for advocating for the rights of the Iranian people and holding the government accountable for its human rights obligations.
