Secretary of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights Kazem Gharibabadi on Wednesday called for making up for the harms caused by unilateral sanctions, saying that the compensation is the result of international responsibility.
Gharibabadi made the remark in Geneva during talks with Alena Douhan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights.
The talks were held on the sidelines of the 51st regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, which is taking place from September 12 to October 7, 2022.
Gharibabadi, who also serves as Iran’s deputy judiciary chief for international affairs, described unilateral sanctions as crimes against humanity and called for raising public awareness about the damaging impacts of these measures.
He told the UN rapporteur that her visits to countries targeted by sanctions can expose the unknown aspects of the negative impacts of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights.
The UN rapporteur thanked Iran for its cooperation regarding her visit to the country, and said that dealing with individuals’ cases is an important step to make those implementing the unilateral sanctions take responsibility for their actions.
Iran’s human rights chief urges compensation for harms caused by unilateral sanctions
Meanwhile, Gharibabadi met with Head of the Human Rights Council Federico Villegas.
The Iranian official referred to his country’s cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as well as special rapporteurs, saying that biased and unfair behaviors, despite Iran’s achievements made amid US pressure and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, are totally rejected.
He said that Iran’s principal approach is to support and promote human rights, adding that resolutions and reports full of fake and unfounded allegations regarding the human rights situation in Iran will create a serious obstacle to boost cooperation.
Gharibabadi criticized the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran for adopting a hostile and political approach toward the country, saying that the rapporteur has used unofficial sources and chosen selective information while questioning Iran’s constitution and ignoring progress made by the country over the situation of human rights.
Villegas, on his part, said that the special rapporteurs should fulfill their responsibilities based on a balanced approach far from political attitudes.