Interactive dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on Iran

53rd session of the Human Rights Council: Interactive dialogue on oral update of Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, Nordic – Baltic Statement, Delivered by Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi, Permanent Representative of Finland, 5 July 2023.

Mr. President,

I speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries. We thank the Fact-Finding Mission for the valuable update and reiterate our support to the mandate.

People of Iran persistently demand respect for their rights, including an end to systemic discrimination against women and girls. Yet, the repression intensifies in law and in practice. We are alarmed by the draft bill regarding the enforcement of compulsory veiling laws and the draft Penal Code provisions, further criminalizing non-compliance.

We echo the profound concern of the High Commissioner on the wave of executions, including in the context of the protests. Iran must immediately halt the executions and introduce a moratorium on death penalty.

Civic freedoms, especially freedom of expression and assembly, continue to be severely curtailed, both online and offline. We call on the authorities to cease arbitrary detention, killings, torture and inhuman treatment, and sexual and gender-based violence, and to release all those unjustly detained.

Finally, we expect Iran to fully cooperate with the Council’s mechanisms.

Distinguished Chairperson, could you elaborate on the challenges you experience or foresee in investigating sexual and gender-based violence as part of your mandate?