Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Guided by the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights,

Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in the field,

Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/67 of 4 March 1992,

Regretting that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, after having allowed the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights to pay three visits to that country, has discontinued its cooperation with the Special Representative,

Noting the observation of the Special Representative that international supervision of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran should be maintained,

Noting that the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, in its resolution 1992/15 of 27 August 1992, condemned the continuing grave violations of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran,

1.         Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights and the observations contained therein;

2.         Expresses its deep concern at continuing reports of violations of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran;

3.         Expresses its concern more specifically at the main criticisms of the Special Representative of the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, namely, the high number of executions, the practice of torture, the standard of the administration of justice, the absence of guarantees of due legal process, the treatment of the Baha'i community and restrictions of freedom of expression, thought and opinion and of the press;

4.         Expresses its grave concern at the fact that, contrary to the earlier recommendation of the Special Representative, the application of the death penalty has been excessive;

5.         Regrets that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has not permitted the Special Representative to visit the country and failed to reply to allegations of human rights violations transmitted to it by the Special Representative in time for the reply to be reflected in the interim report;

6.         Regrets also that, as the Special Representative concluded, the Islamic Republic of Iran has not given adequate follow-up to many of the recommendations contained in the previous reports;

7.         Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to intensify its efforts to investigate and rectify the human rights issues raised by the Special Representative in his observations, in particular as regards the administration of justice and due process of law;

8.         Also calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply with international instruments on human rights, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party, and to ensure that all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction, including religious groups, enjoy the rights recognized in these instruments;

9.         Endorses the view of the Special Representative that the international monitoring of the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran should be continued;

10.       Encourages the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to resume cooperation with the Special Representative;

11.       Requests the Secretary-General to give all necessary assistance to the Special Representative;

12.       Decides to continue the examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran during its forty-eighth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions" in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council.