Joint media release
- Senator Claire Chandler, Assistant Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Federal Opposition welcomes the decisions taken in the special session of the UN Human Rights Council on the deteriorating human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The horrific human rights abuses and violence in Iran since the death of Mahsa ‘Jina’ Amini in September demands a swift and strong response from the international community.
We acknowledge the leadership of Germany and Iceland in requesting the special session of the Council, and welcome that request being supported by 44 states, including Australia.
It is disappointing however that a number of member states of the Human Rights Council did not support the special session.
The decision of the Council, with support from Australia, to create an independent Fact Finding Mission is an important step in establishing a mechanism which we hope will bring those responsible for human rights abuses in Iran to justice.
The Opposition continues to call for the Australian Government to catch up to other nations by taking tangible actions in response to human rights abuses, as like-minded countries have already done with measures including targeted sanctions.