Side event following the release of the Iran report on the death penalty
On March 14, 2024, ECPM, Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), Impact Iran, and Baluchistan Human Rights Group organised a side event during the session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. More than 60 participants, including representatives from diplomatic missions and civil society organisations, were present. The panelists, including Mr. Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Mr. Mahmood Amiry Moghaddam, Director of IHRNGO, Mr. Raphael Chenuil Hazan, Director of ECPM, and Ms. Sabah Bandoui, representative of BHRG, all emphasized the severity of the situation.
The organisation of this side event was part of a series of advocacy actions by ECPM and its partners, including IHRNGO, Kurdistan Human Rights Association (KMMK-G), and Impact Iran, advocating for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights violations in Iran and the renewal of the mandate for the International Fact-Finding Mission.
ECPM, IHRNGO, and Impact Iran at the Human Rights Council
On March 18, a letter drafted by Impact Iran and co-signed by many NGOs, including ECPM and its partners, was published.
On March 18, 2024, the oral intervention submitted by ECPM, IHRNGO, and Impact Iran was read before the Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue following the presentation by the Special Rapporteur on Iran of his annual report on human rights violations committed in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This intervention, which was initially supposed to focus on the death penalty in Iran, allowed for the reading of an urgent message from Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and activist for the abolition of the death penalty in Iran and women’s rights activist. This message, sent from Evin Prison where she is currently detained, expressly asked the Human Rights Council and the international community to support the mandates of the Special Rapporteur and the Fact-Finding Mission.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I address you with grave concern regarding the ongoing human rights violations in Iran.
The people of Iran are enduring systematic, widespread, and institutionalised human rights violations committed by the Islamic republic. With the recent surge in protests and “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, repression has escalated, targeting not only political dissidents but also women, religious minorities, and ethnic groups.
It’s imperative that we, as both citizens of Iran and members of the international community, reassess our approach to effectively address these crimes.
As such, I urge the following actions:
1. The mandates of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights must be extended to allow them to continue their vital work to uncover the full extent of gender apartheid and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Islamic Republic.
2. The UN and human rights organisations worldwide must exert systematic and comprehensive pressure on the Islamic Republic, holding it accountable for its egregious violations of human rights.
Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
ECPM and its partners also held numerous advocacy meetings to raise awareness about the alarming situation of the death penalty in Iran and the importance for the international community to continue supporting both mandates.
Co-sponsored event: “Persecution on the ground of gender, ethnicity, and religion in Iran”
ECPM also co-organised the side event “Persecution based on gender, ethnicity, and religion in Iran,” gathering an encouraging audience of 80+ people. Sarah Hossein, President of FFM, praised ECPM’s work. Ethnic minorities were also significantly represented among the audience. Raphaël Chenuil Hazan highlighted the link the use extreme use of death penalty towards ethnic minorities and gender minorities (LGBTQIA+, women), and recalled the multiple facets of the challenges faced by these populations in Iran.
The Republic Islamic of Iran systematically overuse Revolutionary Courts to apply the death penalty against minorities including ethnic groups (Kurds, Baluchs), women and LGBTQI: Therefore, when it comes to the minorities, the death penalty becomes the norm!
Raphaël Chenuil-Hazan
2 days of advocacy in Geneva, in short
Over the past three days, ECPM has gained significant visibility among diplomatic actors, Iranian NGOs, and ethnic minorities. Its advocacy has been widely recognised for its quality and impact, particularly by the Special Rapporteur and the President of FFM. The information provided has enabled the international community to better understand the issues and effectively work on action plans. Additionally, Narges Mohammadi’s symbolic message was well-received. Finally, discussions on enhanced lobbying towards UNODC and financing of programs on Iran by EU member states have been initiated, marking an important advancement to follow up on during the next CCPJC.