By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
TORONTO, Canada – Canada is the main sponsor of a draft resolution on human rights violations in Iran. The UN General Assembly committee recently passed Canada’s resolution. The draft was approved by 70 members of the General Assembly’s Third Committee. Fifty-one members voted against and 60 members abstained.
Iran called for a “motion of no action” in an attempt to prevent the General Assembly from considering the resolution. The motion of no action was defeated by one vote. On December 18, the fifty-fifth UN resolution concerning human rights violations in Iran was passed.
The resolution accuses Iran of gross human rights violations, including torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, such as flogging and amputations. It criticizes the Iran for executing juveniles, killing people by stoning, and for discriminating against women. In addition, Iran is accused of maintaining a lacking legal process and for arbitrarily sentencing political and religious opponents to prison. The resolution urges Iran to stop human rights violations affecting religious and ethnic minorities, including Jews, Christians, Kurds, Arabs, Sunni Muslims and Baha’is.
The resolution calls on Iran’s government to improve its progress toward a greater realization of the protection and promotion of human rights for all Iranians.
The resolution was co-sponsored by 42 European and North American countries. Israel, Fiji and Micronesia have also shown their support. Several non-government groups took part in the campaign, including members of the Baha’i faith, some 30,000 of whom live in Canada.
Though, the General Assembly resolution is not legally binding, a resolution approved by the 191-member states carries more political weight than those passed by the 53-member human rights commission in Geneva, which passed a similar resolution in April 2001.
Lawrence Cannon, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the importance of the resolution, by stating that “It sends a message of hope to the victims of state-sponsored brutality and to the human rights defenders who seek to effect positive change in Iran.” Cannon noted that Canada will continue to promote Canadian values, such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law across the world.
According to Iran’s FARS news agency, Iran has recently released a book titled “Human Rights Violation by Canada,” as well as a 70-page booklet accusing Canada of unlawful strip searches and beatings by Canadian police. Furthermore, Iran has accused Canada of following the Israeli regime in supporting a propaganda campaign against Iran.
For more information, please see:
United Nations – General Assembly Adopts 52 Resolutions, 6 Decisions Recommended by Third Committee on Wide Range of Human Rights, Social, Humanitarian Issues – 18 December 2008
Ahwaz – Iran Fails to Stop UN Condemnation – 26 November 2008
The Gazette – Canada Leads Victory Over Iran on Rights – 24 November 2008
United Nations – Third Committee Draft Resolutions Address Human Rights Situations in Myanmar, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran – 21 November 2008
BNET – U.N. Adopts Human Rights Resolutions Against Myanmar, Iran – 18 November 2008
