Iran must prioritise women’s rights, right to life, and improve transparency, says UN expert

NEW YORK  -- In her first report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mai Sato, raised pressing concerns about the rising number of executions, transparency and access to information as inextricably linked to the right to truth, as well as the deteriorating human rights situation for women and girls.

She was particularly concerned by the State’s response to the “Women, Life, freedom” movement, and the Chastity and Hijab Bill.  She said that Iran remains one of the few countries that have not yet ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The Rapporteur stressed the need for a gendered perspective with an intersectional approach, highlighting the disproportionate impact on specific groups that have been subject to discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation among others.  

“The right to life stands as a fundamental concern, particularly given the alarming increase in executions,” Sato said. In August 2024 alone, at least 93 people were executed, with nearly half in relation to drug offences.

Many face death sentences for broadly defined security offences such as armed rebellion, spreading corruption on earth, and waging war against God – charges that do not meet the "most serious crimes" threshold under international law.

“My examination of the right to life will encompass not only the use of the death penalty but also the lethal use of force by State agencies, deaths in custody, laws that condone or excuse killings, and practices that fail to properly investigate potential unlawful deaths.”

Sato called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to meaningfully cooperate with her mandate as she hopes to help find ways to prevent and address human rights violations.

“I stand ready to engage with Iran to assess and address human rights concerns. I view my role not as an adversary but as an independent expert whose assessment could help Iran strengthen its human rights protections. I firmly believe that meaningful progress requires cooperation from all stakeholders – the Iranian government, its people, civil society, and the international community.”