This petition is drafted as a letter to the UN High Commissioner in regards to the recent events taking place in Iran. These events implicate serious violations of Iran's obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, and other applicable norms of international human rights law.
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Dear High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay:
We the undersigned write this letter to urge you to take efforts to investigate and address human rights abuses that have occurred and are ongoing in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
As you know, over the past week the Iranian Government has used hard-line measures in order to prevent peaceful protests and demonstrations following recent Presidential elections. As you also know, reports coming from Iran provide strong evidence that the Government is involved in a systematic campaign to prevent and injure opposition and further demonstrations. News reports indicate that hundreds of journalists, civilians, and politicians have been detained without charge and purely on the basis of their opinion and political beliefs. Reports also indicate that the Iranian Government along with armed paramilitaries (known as the basij) have employed excessive force and violence against civilians, resulting in torture; cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; and death.
These acts implicate serious violations of Iran%u2019s obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, and other applicable norms of international human rights law. These acts also violate preemptory norms of international laws, such as the prevention and prohibition of torture and crimes against humanity, from which no derogation is permitted.
Moreover, decisions by the Iranian Government to prevent foreign journalists from entering or reporting in the country has created the frightening scenario where the Iranian Government is capable of violating human rights on a massive scale without transparency or accountability.
In light of these circumstances, we respectfully request that you appoint a Special Rapporteur to investigate Iran%u2019s post-election violence. As you have done with respect to human rights conditions in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Cambodia, this office has the power and authority to appoint a Special Rapporteur to investigate claims of human rights abuses in Iran.
The OHCHR is mandated with the responsibility and obligation to promote and protect human rights for all as the leading global human rights organization. The obligation to monitor and report human rights abuses is heightened particularly where the country is unwilling to fulfill its own human rights responsibilities and where it is clear that there is little to no efforts being undertaken to prevent such abuses from occuring.
The victims of the atrocities committed in Iran have waited long enough for genuine justice and for those responsible to be held accountable. The cumulative effect of continued violence by the Iranian government, removal and/or imprisonment of foreign and domestic journalists, and inaction by the United Nations, sends a message of effective impunity. We believe that only signals of strong and principled resolve will persuade Iran to punish the perpetrators and end impunity, and that bringing justice will in turn strengthen an Iranian democracy and respect for the rule of law.
Thank you for your consideration.
