UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Unrestricted Access to Human Rights Resources in Iran

The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, in her first report in this role, urged the leaders of the Islamic Republic to fully cooperate with the Rapporteur and grant unrestricted access to the country. Mai Sato, who succeeded Javid Rahman on July 31, 2024, noted in her report on Saturday, October 13, that the Islamic Republic has prevented UN reporters from entering Iran since the establishment of this mandate in 2011. She stated, 'UN member states should encourage the Islamic Republic to fully cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to pay attention to and address the reports and public statements of the Special Rapporteur.' She also called on international communities to address human rights issues in the Islamic Republic of Iran, considering the public statements, correspondence, and reports published by the Special Rapporteur. The Special Rapporteur invited victims, families of victims, civil society, media, and experts, including Iranian academics, to inspire the promotion of human rights in Iran by sending concerning human rights cases to the Special Rapporteur and sharing their narratives. Ms. Sato identified three priorities for her tenure: 'transparency, gender, and the right to life,' emphasizing her commitment to thoroughly and seriously examine all these issues during her term. She also stated that 'women should have the right to choose, and women who do not wish to wear a hijab have the right to participate in society,' urging the Islamic Republic to 'repeal all laws imposing mandatory dress codes.' She referred to the increasing instances of executions in Iran, stating, 'The death penalty violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and breaches fair trial standards; thus, the Iranian government must seriously consider suspending the death penalty with the aim of complete abolition.' The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights emphasized the necessity of freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly, and association in Iran, adding that 'human rights defenders, activists, journalists, lawyers, and their families should not face intimidation, harassment, arbitrary detention, deprivation of liberty or life, or other arbitrary punishments.' Mai Sato listed 'timely access to healthcare for all prisoners' as one of the government's responsibilities, adding that 'the Islamic Republic must ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention Against Torture, the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.' The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran will also hold a public meeting with members of the General Assembly in New York at the beginning of November to discuss her report's findings and answer their questions. Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, is a social scientist from Japan, a recipient of the Young Criminologist Award in Japan in 2014, and currently an associate professor at the prestigious Monash University in Australia. Sato is the seventh UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran. Her mandate will last for one year and can be extended annually by the Human Rights Council; however, any individual can be appointed as a Special Rapporteur for a maximum of six years. According to a resolution passed annually at the Human Rights Council's March session, the Special Rapporteur on Iran is required to publish human rights reports about Iran twice a year and submit them to the UN and its member states. The Special Rapporteur is also responsible for following up and corresponding with the Iranian authorities regarding cases and issues related to human rights throughout the year and leading collective responses in cooperation with other UN human rights mechanisms when necessary.