Introduction
On 23 January 2026, the Human Rights Council convened its 39th Special Session to address the deteriorating human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The session was requested via an official letter dated 19 January 2026, signed by Iceland together with Germany, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The letter, addressed to H.E. Mr. Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, President of the Human Rights Council, was supported by the following 21 States members of the Council: Albania, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Mauritius, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, North Macedonia, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was also supported by 30 observer States. The request was officially communicated by the Secretariat to all UN member States and relevant stakeholders on 20 January 2026.
The Special Session was convened in response to a significant escalation of violence across Iran after widespread protests broke out on December 28 2025, sparked by an economic crisis following the crash of the Iranian rial. The Council heard statements from key UN officials, member State representatives, and civil society organisations.
In conformity with operative paragraph 10 of General Assembly resolution 60/251, the Human Rights Council is ‘able to hold special sessions, when needed, at the request of a member of the Council with the support of one third of the membership of the Council’ (i.e., 16 member States or more). Special sessions of the Council aim to provide a platform for the Council to consider and act on urgent human rights issues of either a country-specific or a thematic nature.
Webcasts of statements delivered during the Session can be found here.
The Council’s action on the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran to date
In March 2011, during its 16th session, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 16/9, in which it established the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, urged the country concerned to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, and requested the Secretary-General to provide the support and resources necessary for the fulfilment of the mandate. The mandate has since been extended annually.
Several country visits by Special Procedures mandate-holders have taken place; however, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran has not visited the country concerned, instead conducting visits to third States, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada, inter alia. The most recent completed country visit by a Special Procedures mandate-holder took place in May 2022, undertaken by the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights.
On 24 November 2022, the Council held its first Special Session on Iran, in the context of the nationwide protests that erupted across the country following the death in custody of 22 year-old Jina Mahsa Amini, arrested for allegedly violating the compulsory veiling law. The Session resulted in adoption of resolution S-35/L.1 establishing the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The 39th Special Session
After introductory remarks by the Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, Spain’s H.E. Mr. Marcos Gomez Martinez, a series of keynote addresses were delivered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk; Ms. Mai Sato, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Ms. Sara Hossain, Chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (virtual message); and H.E. Mr. Ali Bahreini, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Volker Türk denounced the ‘violent repression of the Iranian people,’ cautioning that it ‘does not solve any of the country’s problems,’ but rather ‘creates conditions for further human rights violations, instability and bloodshed.’ He stated that his Office had received reports of the use of excessive force against peaceful protestors, resulting in ‘thousands’ of deaths, mass arrests, forced confessions and prosecution of celebrities and business owners supporting the protests. Mr. Türk added that the Internet shutdown initiated by the authorities has hindered efforts to establish and verify facts on the ground, while preventing Iranians from communicating with one another both inside and outside the country.
Mr. Türk went on to express grave concern about the high rates of executions in Iran, in particular about the ‘contradictory statements from the Iranian authorities about whether those detained in connection with the protests may be executed.’ He also criticised the authorities’ use of rhetoric to ‘delegitimise’ protestors by labelling them ‘terrorists,’ ‘enemies of the State,’ and ‘foreign agents,’ stressing that ‘none of this would justify the resort to excessive, unnecessary, and disproportionate use of force, or reduce the Government’s obligation to ensure due process and transparent investigations.’
Mr. Türk noted that the current events follow a long-standing pattern of ‘violent repression by the Iranian authorities’ in response to ‘heartfelt calls by the Iranian people for change,’ recalling the 2022 protests following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini. He emphasised that these repeated cycles of repression underscore the Iranian authorities’ failure to address popular grievances, adding that dialogue centred around human rights is the ‘only way out of this frightening escalation.’
The High Commissioner concluded by calling on Iranian leadership to end ‘brutal repression,’ release those arbitrarily detained, impose a moratorium on the death penalty, and to end the Internet shutdown. He stressed the need for accountability, independent investigations into rights violations, and urged Iran to engage with the international human rights ecosystem, including his Office. Finally, he appealed to the international community to address the impact of sanctions on the human rights of Iranians, emphasising that ‘human rights are an essential tool to navigate through difficult issues and troubled times, not a weapon to be instrumentalised against anyone.’
In her intervention, Ms. Mai Sato expressed deep concern about the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, remarking that ‘the scale of violent repression we are seeing today is among the most severe in its brutality and scope in recent history.’ She condemned the Iranian authorities’ response to the demonstrations, informing the Council that she had received ‘countless’ videos capturing the use of lethal force against unarmed protestors, which she said ‘demonstrates clear disregard for the right to freedom of assembly and expression, and the right to life.’
Ms. Sato spoke about the Internet and telecommunications shutdown across the country, which has obstructed information flows and obscured on-the-ground reality – while authorities have reported over 3,000 deaths, ‘some civil society estimates go up to tens of thousands.’ The shutdown has caused ‘immense anguish’ to Iranians both within and outside the country, she added, leaving them ‘unable to confirm their loved ones’ safety.’
She went on to decry the ‘dangerous’ rhetoric employed by authorities to ‘justify brutal crackdowns,’ as well as the suppression of civic space, the detention of ‘tens of thousands’ of individuals, and reports of coercion of detainees into making false confessions. Moreover, she warned that ‘the crackdown may soon extend to economic persecution with proposals to confiscate assets of celebrities and business owners for supporting the protest.’
Ms. Sato ended by pledging to continue monitoring the situation and to present an update on the situation during the next Human Rights Council session. She urged the Council to ‘empower the Fact-Finding Mission to investigate these protest-related violations to ensure accountability,’ and requested to undertake a country visit.
Ms. Sara Hossain referred to the events unfolding in the Islamic Republic of Iran as ‘the deadliest crackdown against its people since the Revolution of 1979,’ describing the ‘extensive and ferocious lethal force’ unleashed against protestors as ‘organised’ rather than sporadic events, resulting in a ‘staggering’ number of injuries and deaths. ‘The Government has itself acknowledged thousands of deaths, and credible information suggests the number is much higher,’ she said.
Speaking about the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission’s work, Ms. Hossain said that it has collected ‘deeply troubling’ witness and victim accounts, and gathered and assessed evidence, including digital material, which point to ‘severe human rights violations.’ She informed the Council that the Government of Iran has briefed the Mission presenting its its perspectives on the events, which included allegations of external interference; Ms. Hossain underscored that threats or acts of unilateral military intervention violate international law, and that perceived double standards ‘do not absolve any State of its obligation to respect, protect and ensure the enjoyment of human rights.’
She argued that the re-emergence of ‘historical patterns of violations’ identified by the Mission, referring to the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom Protests, indicates ‘an urgent need to act’ and to hold those enabling the violence to account. ‘Recent events underline how critical it is for this cycle to be halted to prevent further escalation and more irreparable harm,’ she said.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran as the country concerned, H.E. Mr. Ali Bahreini began his intervention by denouncing the ‘inhumane’ sanctions imposed on Iran. He argued that they demonstrate that ‘the sponsors of this Session and its outcome have never genuinely cared for the human rights of Iranians,’ framing the Session as a ‘pressure tool against Iran.’
He stated that Iran fully recognises its people’s right to peacefully protest, including on December 28 2025; however, the protests were eventually ‘deliberately transformed into organised violence, including terrorist attacks, destruction of property, and armed actions against civilians and law enforcement.’ Mr. Bahreini further stated that Iran rejects the legitimacy of the Session and its resolution, asserting that the Government possesses ‘independent and national mechanisms’ to investigate, document, and ensure accountability for ‘acts of terrorism and violence.’ He added that ‘the legal status of all detainees will be reviewed strictly in accordance with due process.’
Mr. Bahreini concluded by reaffirming Iran’s sovereignty, national unity, and resilience against foreign pressure, wars, sanctions, and terrorism. He criticised what he described as the hypocrisy of certain States ‘whose historical records are stained with war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and systemic violence,’ arguing that they lack the moral authority to ‘lecture Iran on social governance and human rights.’
Interventions by States
Speaking on behalf of the States that had requested the Council to hold the Special Session (Germany, Moldova, North Macedonia, and the United Kingdom), Iceland condemned the ‘brutal and violent’ way in which Iranian authorities responded to protestors exercising their rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly and association. Ms. Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, urged Council members to support the adoption of the proposed resolution, adding that ‘when a government itself becomes the perpetrator of violations, it is our collective responsibility to act.’
In a video statement, speaking on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden), Estonia expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and condemned the authorities’ response to the demonstrations, urging them to adhere to the country’s international obligations and ‘immediately halt all forms of violence and repression against peaceful protestors.’ Estonia also called on Iran to restore full access to the Internet and telecommunications for all, noting that the shutdown ‘limits documentation of human rights violations, obstructs independent human rights monitoring and disrupts emergency and lifesaving services.’ The State concluded by expressing its support for the adoption of the draft resolution and for the renewal of the Special Rapporteur’s and Independent International Fact-Finding Mission’s mandates.
Germany thanked all Member States participating in the Session and urged them to ‘send a strong signal of solidarity’ to those suffering human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It commended the Special Rapporteur and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for their ‘tireless’ efforts to document and investigate human rights abuses, stressing that the events of the past weeks had underscored both the necessity and continued importance of these mechanisms.
North Macedonia expressed alarm over the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, particularly regarding reports of the unlawful killings of protestors, including children, and the ‘targeting of women and girls for exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms.’ It also condemned the Internet shutdown as well as the intimidation of victims’ families, enforced disappearances, and the silencing of civil society, journalists, and human rights defenders. North Macedonia ended by calling on Council members to support the draft resolution tabled at the Session.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland thanked the panelists for their statements about the Iranian authorities’ ‘horrific’ response to the protests. ‘The killing is shocking,’ it said, ‘but the authorities’ response is not,’ reminding the Council of previous similarly ‘devastating’ crackdowns in 2009, 2019, and 2022. The UK also commended the ‘bravery’ of the Iranian people to speak out ‘in the face of authority ready to fire on its own people,’ including women and ethnic and religious minorities who face particularly severe repression. The UK called for accountability, for the renewal of the Fact-Finding Mission’s mandate, and to ‘stand firmly’ with Iranians in their pursuit for justice.
The European Union, speaking on behalf of the EU and a group of countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine) strongly condemned the ‘brutal repression’ of peaceful protests, the use of violence by security forces, the widespread arbitrary arrests and detentions, and the use of the death penalty as a means of stifling dissent. Calling for accountability for recent events, the EU stated that it ‘will take further measures to target those responsible for the ongoing human rights violations and the repression,’ noting that it has taken ‘targeted restrictive measures’ against those responsible for such actions in Iran since 2011.
Canada condemned the Iranian authorities’ use of unlawful and lethal force against protestors, urging them to uphold the human rights of Iranian and emphasising that ‘this recurring retaliation against dissent underscores an entrenched pattern of state violence and impunity.’ Canada stated that it will work with partners to hold Iran to account, including through the continued imposition of sanctions against designated Iranian entities and individuals, ‘and through a determination to do more.’
Spain welcomed the Special Session on the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and condemned the violence exercised against peaceful protestors, underscoring that the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fundamental pillars of any peaceful and prosperous society. Warning that violence would only exacerbate instability across the region, Spain urged the Iranian authorities to end all forms of repression, including arbitrary detention and summary executions, and to immediately lift all restrictions on telecommunications.
Iraq began by highlighting the need to address all human rights issues ‘on an equal footing and with the same attention,’ adding that the Human Rights Council’s work must be guided by the principles of objectivity and non-selectivity. ‘We must refrain from double standards and politicisation,’ it said, emphasising the importance of dialogue in achieving peace and establishing friendly relations between States. Iraq called on all States to ‘work on enhancing human rights and fundamental freedoms for all using dialogue, avoiding escalation, and to settle disputes in a peaceful manner in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.’
France expressed solidarity with all Iranians who are ‘peacefully expressing their legitimate expectations of dignity, liberty and improved standards of living,’ and urged the end of all forms of repression against them. France emphasised the need to reconvene the Human Rights Council together with the Security Council, in order to further document and find evidence of human rights abuses and international law violations committed by the Iranian authorities since 28 December 2025. It supported the renewal of the mandates of the Special Rapporteur and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, urging cooperation with prosecutors in order to identify those responsible for these crimes.
The Republic of Korea called it ‘imperative’ for the Iranian people’s grievances to be taken seriously, emphasising that the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters is ‘unacceptable.’ It highlighted the importance of States’ engagement with the UN human rights mechanisms as a means of supporting the fulfilment of their international human rights obligations. In conclusion, the Republic of Korea expressed hope for the possibility of a peaceful resolution of the current situation and progress in ensuring the enjoyment of human rights in the country through ‘constructive cooperation between Iran and the international human rights mechanisms.’
China voiced opposition to the convening of the Special Session and reaffirmed its support for respect of Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. It stated that the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran is ‘in essence, a matter of internal affairs,’ and should be resolved by the Iranian people themselves. China recalled its opposition to interference in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, to the imposition of country-specific human rights mechanisms without the consent of the country concerned, and to double standards on human rights. It also denounced the use or threats of force in international relations, warning against the return of the world to ‘the law of the jungle.’ It urged the international community to support Iran in overcoming current difficulties, maintaining national stability, and safeguarding the rights of Iranians, calling on all parties to resolve differences through dialogue. China concluded by stating that it is ‘ready to play a constructive role to this end.’
Voting and adoption of texts
Draft resolution S-39/L.1 was adopted as orally revised by recorded vote (25 in favour, 7 against, 14 abstentions).
Featured image: 3rd day – Protests, Hamed Saber, June 15 2009.
Share this Post
