Vision and Priorities of the Mandate
The first report by Ms. Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, has been published. This report will be presented to the Third Committee of the General Assembly on November 1st, 2024.
In her first report in this role, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran outlined three main priorities for her tenure: transparency, gender, and the right to life.
In her report, it states:
“In addition to the three priority areas that will be examined throughout the mandate, the Special Rapporteur is keen to apply a thematic approach in her reports to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly This means various human rights protections and violations will be reported under various themes, rather than providing an update on rights one by one”.
In this report, the Special Rapporteur also shifts the focus from the duty bearer to rights holders, expressing her unwavering commitment to advancing the human rights situation for the people in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“Turning attention from the duty bearer to the rights holders, the Special Rapporteur expresses her unwavering commitment to advancing the human rights situation for the people in the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
In her first report, the Special Rapporteur places a specific emphasis on the issue of the “right to life,” highlighting the importance of this topic prominently throughout the report:
“Without challenging the indivisibility of human rights, one right stands out for this mandate: the right to life. Simply put, without it, the other rights cannot be fulfilled. The Special Rapporteur expresses serious concern at the alarming increase in the number of executions. In August 2024 alone, at least 93 individuals were executed with only a fraction officially reported by the Islamic Republic of Iran”
In this report, it specifically highlights the contradiction between the use of the death penalty and international norms, stating:
“Numerous individuals are facing the death penalty for a range of offences, among which are broadly defined security offences such as armed rebellion, spreading corruption on earth, and waging war against God, and apostasy. These do not and cannot qualify as “the most serious crimes” under the ICCPR. These vague charges have been applied against dissidents of the Government on several occasions, in clear breach of international standards.”
The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that “This means the Special Rapporteur will not only be focusing on the use of the death penalty, but also on the lethal use of force by State agencies, deaths in custody, laws that the condone or excuse the killings, and practices that fail to properly investigate potential unlawful deaths.”
Ms. Mai Sato underscores in the report, “Since taking up the mandate, the Special Rapporteur, together with other experts, has called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to release human rights defenders and to provide access to timely and appropriate healthcare to incarcerated human rights defenders, including women’s rights activists. The denial of medical care should not be used to punish and silence prisoners. Such deprivations may amount to torture and inhuman treatment, freedom from which is an absolute right not liable to exceptions and derogations.”
The Special Rapporteur emphasizes the issue of women’s freedom of dress, and states that there should be no punishment for those who do not comply. In this regard, she specifies, “They have the right to have their safety and autonomy preserved whether a hijab is worn or not”.
In paragraph 27, at the end of section B, Gendered approach and intersectionality, she emphasizes two important issues:
“This priority is informed by two additional considerations: the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the handful of countries yet to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; [1] and according to the Global Gender Gap Index 2023, the Islamic Republic of Iran ranked 143rd out of 146 countries.[2]”
The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran has extended an invitation to victims, their families, civil society organizations, the media, and experts, including Iranian academics, to share their human rights concerns and personal accounts. This initiative aims to inspire efforts to advance human rights in Iran.
In her first report in this role, Ms. Mai Sato urged the leaders of the Islamic Republic to cooperate fully with her mandate and allow her unrestricted access to the country.
According to a resolution adopted annually during the March session of the Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran is required to submit two reports each year. These reports, focusing on issues she identifies as the most significant at the time, are presented to the General Assembly (Third Committee) and the following year’s Human Rights Council session.
Mai Sato is the seventh UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran. Her mandate will last for one year but can be renewed annually by the Human Rights Council. However, no individual can serve as Special Rapporteur for more than six years in total.
The previous Special Rapporteurs included: Javaid Rehman (2018-2024), Asma Jahangir (2016–2018), Ahmed Shaheed (2011-2016), Maurice Copithorne (1995–2002), Reynaldo Galindo Pohl (1993-1995), and Andrés Aguilar (1984-1986;
The first three Special Rapporteurs for this mandate were appointed by the Human Rights Commission.
First report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran: vision and priorities of the mandate (October 11, 2024)
[1] https://indicators.ohchr.org/
[2] Page 11 – https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2023.pdf
