FIDH – International Federation for Human Rights
UN Human Rights Council – 59th Session
1 July 2025
Item 6: Adoption of the UPR outcome of Iran
Mister President,
FIDH and its member organization LDDHI deeply regret that the Iranian government did not accept over half of the 346 recommendations it received, including many that addressed the country’s most serious and urgent human rights violations.
Among the non-accepted recommendations were those on: the abolition of the death penalty; the elimination of gender-based discrimination and violence; the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; the respect of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association; and the end to the persecution of human rights defenders, and members of ethnic communities and religious minorities.
In particular, the government failed to accept all 38 recommendations relating to the death penalty, including those on the establishment of a moratorium and the prohibition of executions for crimes committed by minors. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have ramped up executions. In May alone, at least 189 people were executed across the country, bringing the total to 596, including seven child offenders, in the first five months of 2025.
The government also failed to support critical recommendations on addressing gender-based discrimination and violence, including marital rape, and repealing discriminatory laws, such as those enforcing the compulsory hijab.
The government’s crackdown on civil society continues unabated, with arbitrary arrests and detentions and long prison sentences against peaceful activists and opponents.
We note the government’s engagement with several UN treaty bodies. However, Tehran has continued to reject the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran and has failed to cooperate with the HRC-mandated Independent International Fact-Finding Mission.
We urge the Iranian government to reconsider its position on key recommendations—particularly those related to the death penalty, women’s rights and gender equality, and civic space.
We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in their quest for democracy and human rights and call on all UN member states to press the Iranian government to respect its international human rights obligations.
Thank you.