UN Draft Resolution Affirms Iran’s Sovereignty
Bizarrely, the draft UNHRC resolution on Iran affirms a “strong commitment” to “the full respect for the sovereignty… of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” See full text below.
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A/HRC/S-39/L.1
Received from (main sponsors): Iceland, Germany, North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Date and time: 20 January 2026, 16:23
Deteriorating situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially in the context of the repression of nationwide protests
PP1. Guided by the purposes and principles of Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, and other relevant international human rights instruments,
PP2. Recalling all resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including General Assembly resolution 80/220 of 22 December 2025 and Council resolution 58/21 of 3 April 2025,
PP3. Reaffirming the primary responsibility of States to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights and fundamental freedoms under international human rights law and to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction,
PP4. Reaffirming also its strong commitment to international law, to the full respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
PP5. Expressing serious concern about the ongoing human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran in the context of the protests that started in December 2025 in Teheran’s Bazaar with economic grievances and spread across the country throughout the month of January 2026, expressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and by multiple special procedures of the Human Rights Council,
PP6. Expressing deep concern about the unprecedented violent crackdown of peaceful protests by security forces in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including credible reports[1] of unlawful killings of protesters, including children, and use of excessive and lethal force, leading to the death of thousands of peaceful protesters, and high number of injured protesters,
PP7. Also expressing deep concern about arbitrary arrests and detentions of protesters, including children, and enforced disappearances and incommunicado detentions,
PP8. Deeply concerned by the protracted internet shutdown and communication blackout intentionally imposed by Iranian authorities since 8 January, in violation of international human rights law, restating its unequivocal condemnation of measures taken to prevent the full documentation of human rights violations and abuses, or disrupt people’s ability to seek, receive or impart information online, as well as other measures that prevent or disrupt access to meaningful connectivity,
PP9. Noting with concern the recurrence in recent years of nationwide protest movements that have been met by state-led violence and similar patterns of violations, including use of excessive and lethal force against protesters by security forces, arbitrary arrests and detentions,
PP10. Alarmed at the unprecedently high numbers of executions in 2025 in the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to reports, and expressing deep concern at risks of illegal use of the death penalty against protesters recently arrested.
PP11. Affirming the inalienable rights of all Iranians to life, to liberty and to security of person, as well as their rights to freedom of expression, to freedom of association and of peaceful assembly, and to freedom of religion or belief, and reaffirming that everyone must be able to express their grievances or aspirations in a peaceful manner, including through public protests,
PP12. Stressing the need to ensure accountability for human rights violations and end impunity for grave violations of human rights and any international crimes, which is critical for the prevention of further violations, and recalling the obligation of the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure prompt, effective, independent, transparent and impartial investigations into all alleged human rights violations,
OP1 Strongly deplores the violent crackdown of peaceful protests resulting in the deaths of thousands of people, including children, and large numbers of injured individuals, as well as the arrest of thousands in connection with the nation-wide protests that started on 28 December 2025,
OP2 Urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect, protect and fulfil its human rights obligations and to take all measures necessary to stop and prevent extrajudicial killings, other forms of arbitrary deprivation of life, enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, arbitrary arrests and detentions, incommunicado detention and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including against peaceful protesters;
OP3 Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cease the targeted intimidation and harassment of victims, survivors and their families and to ensure their access to truth, justice and redress, including reparations, and that perpetrators are held fully accountable, in compliance with fair trial guarantees under international human rights law;
OP4 Affirms the obligation of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect, protect and fulfil the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly of Iranians, and to remove structural and legal barriers to freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly and to the right to participate in political and public life;
OP5 Calls on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to fully restore Internet access, and underlines the importance of maintaining nation-wide free, open, interoperable, reliable and secure access to the internet, contributing to freedoms of opinion, expression and assembly;
OP6 Decides to extend the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran, for a further period of two years in line with the Human Rights Council resolution 58/21 of 4 April 2025, effective from the end of the 61st session, to present a report to the Human Rights Council during its 64th and 67th sessions, and to present an oral update, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, on the implementation of the mandate to the General Assembly at its 81st and 82nd sessions;
OP7 Requests the independent international fact-finding mission to conduct an urgent investigation into allegations of recent and ongoing serious human rights violations and abuses, and crimes perpetrated in relation to the protests that began on 28 December 2025 including for potential future legal proceedings in line with its mandate, and to present to the Council an report on its findings during an interactive dialogue at its 63rd session, followed by an oral briefing to the General Assembly during a joint interactive dialogue at its eighty-first session;
OP8 Decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran for a further period of one year, effective from the end of the 61st session, in order to continue to monitor the ongoing situation of human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, and to measure progress in the implementation of recommendations, and requests the Special Rapporteur to submit a report to the Human Rights Council at its 64th session through a joint interactive dialogue with the Fact-Finding Mission, and to the General Assembly at its 81st session;
OP9 Encourages the Special Rapporteur and the Fact-Finding Mission to cooperate closely, with a view to promoting synergy;
OP10 Requests the Secretary-General and the Office of the High Commissioner to provide all the resources and expertise necessary to enable the fact-finding mission and the Special Rapporteur to fulfil its mandate and urges all United Nations bodies to cooperate fully with the Fact-Finding Mission and the Special Rapporteur to respond promptly to any request made by it, including with regard to access to all relevant information and documentation;
OP11 Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate fully with the Fact-Finding Mission and with the Special Rapporteur, to grant unhindered access to the country without any delay and to provide them with all information necessary to allow for the proper fulfilment of their mandates
[1] https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/01/iran-un-fact-finding-mission-calls-immediate-restoration-internet-access-and
https://unwatch.org/uns-draft-resolution-on-iran-affirms-sovereignty-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran/
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