The Committee to Protect Journalists has joined two dozen human rights organizations in signing a letter calling on all member states of the U.N. General Assembly Third Committee to vote in favor Tuesday of resolution A/C.3/68/L.57 on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Many Iranians hope that the election of President Hassan Rouhani this summer augurs a new period of reform in the country. But as the letter makes clear, “the human rights situation in Iran continues to be marked by routine violations of civil and political rights as well as economic, social, and cultural rights.” Of particular concern to CPJ, the Iranian government continues to arrest journalists and ban news outlets. Admittedly, Rouhani will face significant challenges if he seeks to reform a political system in which, as the letter says, “human rights abuses are deeply rooted.” It is therefore even more important that member states pass the resolution to “send a strong signal to the government and all Iranians that the world is invested in lasting human rights changes in their country,” as the letter urges.
To read the full letter, click here.