HRC 46- EU Intervention: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Islamic Republic of Iran

The European Union thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. 

Continuous use of death penalty in Iran remains an issue of deep concern, including the execution of child offenders, protestors and dissidents, as well as the practice of secret executions. In this regard, we call Iran to respect its obligations under the ICCPR and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Furthermore, laws which authorize torture as punishment must be repealed. In this respect, we call upon Iran to ratify the Convention against Torture.

The EU regrets the fact that gender-based discrimination persists in Iran, in law and in practice. Preventing and protecting women and girls from violence and other abuses through effective legislation and holding perpetrators accountable is a precondition towards gender equality. Obstacles to the enjoyment by women and girls of all their rights including their right to participate in public affairs and their right to culture, need to be removed. Therefore, we call for the ratification of the CEDAW.

We remain concerned about the persistent human rights violations in Iran, including the rights to freedom of expression, online and offline, peaceful association and assembly. We call for the protection of human rights defenders and lawyers such as Nasrín Sotúde, journalists, dual nationals and for the release of those arbitrarily detained. We are also concerned about the situation of LGBTI-persons, and about reports that persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities in Iran suffer serious constraints to the enjoyment of their human rights. 

The EU welcomes the engagement of Iran with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. We call upon Iran to fully cooperate with Special Procedure mandates and with the Special Rapporteur, including the facilitation of a country visit.