Today the independent non-governmental human rights group UN Watch submitted to the United Nations the draft text of a resolution to overturn the appointment of the Islamic Republic of Iran as Chair of the U.N. Human Rights Council Social Forum. See below for full text.
The text was contained in a UN Watch submission to the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council. A member state is now needed to officially sponsor the resolution.
There no stipulated procedure for canceling such an appointment. But the 47-nation UNHRC plenary can overrule any decision of the president.
“There was no procedure to expel Iran from the UN Women’s Rights Commission, but we got that done,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch.
“We thank the more the 75,000 people worldwide who have signed our petition to stop Iran’s regime from heading the UN Human Rights Council Social Forum in November. Our goal is to reach 100,000 before approaching world leaders for their support,” said Neuer.
Following is the text of the draft resolution:
Overturning the Appointment of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Representative as Chair of the 2023 United Nations Human Rights Council Social Forum
The Human Rights Council,
Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,
Recalling that the Human Rights Council was founded, as stated in General Assembly Resolution 60/251, for the purpose of promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and to address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon.
Recalling further all previous resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council concerning the situation of human rights in Iran,
Expressing serious concern over the actions of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran since September 2022 to continuously undermine and increasingly suppress the human rights of women and girls, including the right to freedom of expression and opinion, often with the use of excessive force, by administering policies flagrantly contrary to the human rights of women and girls and to the mandate of the Human Rights Council, as well as through the use of lethal force resulting in the deaths of peaceful protesters, including women and girls,
Noting with great concern that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Representative was appointed Chair of the 2023 United Nations Human Rights Council Social Forum,
Emphasizing that the appointment of a representative of a government with such a deplorable human rights record severely undermines the credibility and purpose of both the Human Rights Council and the Social Forum,
Recalling the recent report by the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran which exposes a stark reality of widespread human rights abuses and violations in Iran, including state-endorsed violence against women and girls, summary executions of peaceful protesters, and stifling of freedom of expression, suggesting possible crimes against humanity,
- Decides to nullify with immediate effect the appointment of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Representative as Chair of the 2023 United Nations Human Rights Council Social Forum.
I am proud to announce that today we submitted to the United Nations the draft text of a resolution to overturn the appointment of the Islamic Republic of Iran as Chair of the U.N. Human Rights Council Social Forum. This insult and injustice cannot stand. We will not be silent. pic.twitter.com/vZSkdhUVNS
- Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) May 30, 2023
9/ A reporter told me: “But European diplomats say it’s good for the U.N. Human Rights Council to be a big tent, allowing countries like Iran, China, Russia and Venezuela to join, learn and improve.”
No - the big tent theory is a big lie. I said so before the UNHRC itself: pic.twitter.com/aYgn8sPUBd
- Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) May 28, 2023
