UNGA-78 Side Event: The Past Persecution of Minorities in Iran

This UNGA-78 Side Event had gathered States, United Nations human rights experts, and NGOs that monitored the situation of human rights in Iran and offered an update on the situation of minorities inside Iran over the previous year in the context of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests and beyond.
Experts had shared elements of analysis and provided recommendations as to what should have been done, including seeking redress for victims and holding perpetrators accountable. A particular emphasis had been placed on the specific role of minorities in Iran and the challenges they had faced in light of past persecution at the hands of Iranian authorities.
Background:
It had been just over one year since the death in detention of Zhina Mahsa Amini, which had triggered widespread protests throughout the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). While largely peaceful, the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests had been met with excessive force from authorities, leading to countless human rights violations and potential violations of international law.
Next to targeting women in all their diversity for not adhering to the oppressive and forced gender norms and stereotypes as decreed by the regime, the protests had also shed light on the widespread discrimination against minority groups inside the country. Ethnic, religious, sexual, and gender minorities had frequently been the subject of discrimination in both law and practice.
Despite longstanding and widespread calls for accountability, impunity had remained the norm, while pressure on minority groups inside of Iran had persisted and, in some ways, increased, seemingly, with the aim to discourage and crush any form of dissent and protest in the country.
Moderator: Deepa Parent, Independent journalist who had covered conflict and human rights
Opening Remarks: Iranian human rights activists, virtual remarks from inside Iran
Keynote Remarks: Dr. Javaid Rehman, who had been the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran
Panelists:
Skylar Thompson, Human Rights Activist (HRA)
Simin Fahendej, Baha’i International Community (BIC)
Awin Mostafazade, Kurdpa
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