PILPG Circle of Former Ambassadors to the UN Human Rights Council Releases Statement in Response to the Human Rights Situation in Iran

November 3, 2022

The Public International Law & Policy Group, an ECOSOC-accredited NGO, convened a Circle of Former Ambassadors to the United Nations Human Rights Council, a group of several former Ambassadors to the Human Rights Council, including two former Presidents of the Council - Ambassador Joachim Rucker (2015) and Ambassador Vojislav Suc (2019).

On November 3, PILPG's Circle of Former Ambassadors to the United Nations Human Rights Council released a statement condemning the Islamic Republic of Iran's regime's violent crackdown on peaceful protests in support of women's rights and expressing deep concern about reports of continued suppression of the rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and other human rights across the country.   

The Circle stands in solidarity with women and girls who have bravely taken to the streets to demonstrate, demanding accountability and justice for the death of Mahsa Amini and Nika Shahkarami, as well as for democracy and their fundamental rights and freedoms to be guaranteed.  

The Circle strongly supports calls and initiatives for removing Iran from the UN Women - Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), requesting the member states of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to take appropriate action. There should be no place on the principal body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women for a state that is so violently repressing woman's rights; 

The Circle calls upon the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, to take the lead in initiating prompt action to address the human rights situation in Iran and to respond to the call of 43 organizations, as well as UN human rights experts' part of the Special Procedures to the member states of the UN Human Rights Council "to hold a Special Session as a matter of urgency given the gravity of crimes under international law."  

The PILPG Circle of Former Ambassadors to the UN Human Rights Council affirms its support for the peaceful protests in Iran and Iranian women's demands for accountability, justice, and human rights for all. Responsibility for serious human rights violations, justice for all affected people, and an end to impunity must be prioritized. 

Click here to read their statement.