NEWS RELEASES

November 8, 2005 (3:00 p.m. EST)
No. 211

CANADA PRESENTS RESOLUTION AT UN ON IRAN’S DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that Canada has introduced a resolution at the 60th session of the UN General Assembly on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.

“We have carefully followed the situation in Iran during the past year and we believe there has been a marked deterioration in the government’s performance in protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of its people,” said Minister Pettigrew. “Positive developments in 2005 have been sparse and the lack of progress and action by the Government of Iran is cause for serious concern. This assessment is shared by many members of the international community.”

The resolution, which has been co-sponsored by 38 other countries, expresses concerns about violations of human rights in the country and calls upon the Government of Iran to abide by its international obligations. The resolution provides a strong international call for Iran to make improvements in many areas, including independence of the judiciary, intimidation and persecution of defence lawyers and legal defenders, arbitrary detentions, freedom of expression, freedom of the media, the treatment of women, the treatment of persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities and the execution of persons below 18 years of age.

In December 2004, at the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly, Canada was the main sponsor of a successful resolution on the Iranian human rights situation. The resolution called for the human rights situation in Iran to be re-examined this fall at the 60th session of the General Assembly.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

James Christoff
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca