December 18, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement, following the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran:
“The adoption of this Canadian-led resolution demonstrates that the international community continues to condemn Iran’s abysmal record on human rights. Canada is heartened by the support this resolution received and reiterates to the Iranian people that their dignity remains at the forefront of the agenda.
“This resolution provides a public signal to human rights defenders in Iran that they continue to have our unwavering support. It also brings international scrutiny to bear on Iran’s atrocious human rights record and calls on the clerical regime in Tehran to uphold its obligations and promises of meaningful reform.
“It’s high time for President Rouhani to uphold Iran’s commitments, and reverse the trend of its worsening human rights record, its continued material support for terrorism, and its ongoing nuclear ambitions. Canada will continue to defend the rights of the afflicted and be a voice for all of those who have been silenced under Iran’s repressive actions.”
A backgrounder follows.
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Canada continues to be a leader and strong defender of human rights in the international community.
For the 12th consecutive year, Canada has been the lead co-sponsor, in concert with a cross-regional group of countries, of the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the human rights situation in Iran. The text of this resolution is based on the annual reports of the UN Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, which are supported by credible civil society information and diplomatic reporting.
The resolution reiterates the concerns of the international community and states that the human rights situation in Iran continues to be egregious. Iran continues to disregard its commitments and obligations to civil and political rights under international law, as well as its own domestic laws. Long-standing human rights abuses, such as the execution of juvenile offenders and persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, persist despite efforts by the international community and Iranian civil society. The past year has also seen a significant increase in the application of the death penalty in Iran. Torture is routine, systematic and widespread in the country, especially within the prison system. The rights of women continue to be suppressed, and the Government of Iran has gone to great lengths to restrict freedom of expression and to restrict the media, including through harassment, intimidation, prosecution, detention and sometimes death sentences.
Through this resolution, the international community continues to encourage meaningful and lasting human rights reform in Iran. This includes calling for concrete action to address the most serious human rights violations in Iran, such as the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, discrimination against women and the targeting of social media users.
For more information, visit The Human Rights Situation in Iran.
