NATIONAL: Canada welcomes UN resolution calling on Iran to respect human rights

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs,  issued the following statement welcoming the results of the plenary vote, at the 56th meeting of the UN General Assembly, on the resolution on human rights in Iran:

“The adoption of this UN resolution firmly reiterates the deep concern that the international community has for the continued human rights abuses in Iran.

“Canada continues to strive for a world where all human beings are treated equally in dignity and in rights.

“We support the people of Iran, who must be allowed to enjoy the rights and freedoms to which they are entitled.

“Canada urges the Iranian regime to address the grave human rights concerns raised in this resolution.”

Quick facts

• The resolution on human rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 17, 2018, with 84 member states voting in favour.
• Reports by the UN Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran reveal that the human rights situation has worsened in the past year, with a systematic crackdown on protestors, journalists and social media users that followed increasingly widespread protests.
• The use of the death penalty against juvenile offenders has continued at an alarming rate. There have also been reports of torture; arbitrary arrests and detention; trials that fail to adhere to due process standards; restrictions on freedom of expression, both online and offline; and intimidation of human rights defenders, showing that Iran has failed to adhere to international rights standards.
• Discrimination against women and girls, members of recognized and unrecognized religious minorities and other marginalized and vulnerable groups remains persistent.

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Source : Media Release