Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Ms Vice President,
New Zealand thanks both the Fact-Finding Mission for its update and the Special Rapporteur for her report. We reiterate our strong support for these critical accountability mechanisms, as well as our support for the brave Iranians calling for their fundamental human rights to be respected.
Ms Vice President, New Zealand remains extremely concerned by the human rights situation in Iran as documented in these updates today. The severe restrictions on the freedom of expression, violence and discrimination affecting women and girls, and ongoing repression of religious and ethnic minorities by Iranian authorities are particularly appalling. These actions constitute breaches of Iran’s international human rights obligations. We are also alarmed by the surge in executions, which include protesters and minors, and again call on Iran to cease this practice.
Finally, the ongoing lack of access granted to the Special Rapporteur and Fact-Finding Mission is a major concern, and we urge the Iranian authorities to grant this access immediately. The Special Rapporteur and Fact-Finding Mission must be allowed to carry out their mandated work without impediment.
Thank you.