On March 18, 2025, 42 human rights organizations called for the UN Human Rights Council to renew the UN special rapporteur’s mandate on Iran, emphasizing the need for ongoing international investigations. Reports reveal ongoing gross human rights violations, particularly affecting women and minorities. Hilary Power of Human Rights Watch highlighted the critical role of these mandates in pursuing justice for victims amidst a deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.
On March 18, 2025, 42 Iranian and international human rights organizations urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to renew the mandate of the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran. They stressed the necessity for a continuing international investigative mechanism to build upon the findings of the UN fact-finding mission. Reports presented by both the fact-finding mission and the special rapporteur indicated ongoing gross violations of human rights in Iran, constituting potential crimes against humanity, particularly affecting women, minorities, and families seeking justice.
Hilary Power, Director at Human Rights Watch in Geneva, emphasized, “The reports by the fact-finding mission and the special rapporteur present a grim picture of a full-fledged crisis of human rights and impunity in Iran that requires a robust response from the Human Rights Council.” She underscored that with the absence of justice within Iran, these mandates are pivotal for accountability and support for victims and their families pursuing justice.
Since its establishment in 2011, the UN special rapporteur on Iran has effectively monitored widespread human rights violations and issued urgent appeals to protect at-risk individuals, including those facing imminent execution. The fact-finding mission, instituted in November 2022, focused on accountability during the violent state response to protests incited by the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, which highlighted severe abuses surrounding compulsory veiling laws.
The fact-finding mission’s initial report in March 2024 detailed grave human rights violations during the government crackdown on the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. The 2025 report indicated that such violations—including murder, torture, rape, and enforced disappearances—persist unabated. The continuous decline in Iran’s human rights situation was further highlighted, noting significant increases in executions in 2024, with the death penalty being used against minors in violation of international law.
Women, girls, and minority groups continue to endure extreme discrimination and state-sanctioned violence. The Iranian government has categorically denied past and ongoing violations, opting instead to target the families of victims and those pursuing justice. Furthermore, the repression is now extending beyond Iran’s borders, with increased harassment of dissidents and journalists abroad, constituting a dangerous form of transnational repression that poses threats to their lives.
In conclusion, the UN’s continued investigation into human rights violations in Iran is considered essential by numerous human rights organizations. Reports indicate a grim reality where gross violations, including crimes against humanity, persist unabated, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as women and minorities. The call for the renewal of the special rapporteur’s mandate and a robust international investigative mechanism underscores the urgent need for accountability and justice for victims within Iran’s repressive environment.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
