Third Committee Statement on the Situation of Human Rights in Islamic Republic of Iran
New York, 24 October 2023
Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Islamic Republic of Iran
Mr. Chair.
We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report and update.
The people of the Islamic Republic of Iran persistently demand respect for their rights, including an end to systemic discrimination against women and girls. Yet, the repression intensifies.
We are alarmed by the recent adoption of the Chastity and Hijab bill by the Iranian Parliament and its referral to the Guardian Council for ratification.
The bill seeks to force non-complying women into an unprecedented social and economic siege by mandating education and health care providers and business owners with enforcement. By implication, non-complying women will be denied access to higher education, health services, banking and other services.
We are also deeply troubled by reports of the use of artificial intelligence and digital facial recognition technology to surveil, arrest and punish women and girls.
These recent developments only aggravate an already dire situation for women and girls, marked by widespread and systematic discrimination in law and in practice, in many aspects of their public and private life.
We urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to repeal and abolish all discriminatory laws, regulations and procedures against women and girls and to immediately dismantle any State machinery tasked with monitoring and enforcing coercive measures against women and girls.
I thank you.