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IRAN - UN Universal Periodic Review – Iran Must Stop
Forced & Early Marriages & End Discrimination Against Sexual Minorities
Justice for Iran |
3 November 2014 – Illegalisation of forced and early marriages, banning forced
sex change operations, and formal recognition of the rights of sexual
minorities are among recommendations offered by various countries during the
second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the situation of human rights in
Iran.
The second UPR on
Iran took place on Friday 31 October 2014 at the UN Human Rights Council in
Geneva. During this session, 50 recommendations directly addressed the
issue of forced and early marriages, as well as the rights of women,
transgender and homosexual citizens.
Ahead of the UPR,
Justice for Iran met with representatives of at least 30 countries at the
UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and suggested recommendations on these topics
based on its recent publications: JFI brief and recommendations on early marriage in Iran, JFI & 6Rang brief and
recommendations on LGBT rights in Iran, JFI brief and recommendations on women’s rights in Iran.
Eight countries
from Africa, Asia and Europe recommended the Islamic Republic rectify its
national laws pertaining to forced and early marriages. For instance, Sierra
Leone recommended that Iran raise the minimum age for marriage to 18 and end
the practice of forced and early marriages. South Korea asked Iran to end all
forced and early marriages involving young girls while Montenegro pointed to
laws that allow children below the age of 13 to marry pending a judge’s
permission.
Eight
countries from Africa, Asia and Europe recommended the Islamic Republic rectify
its national laws pertaining to forced and early marriages. For instance,
Sierra Leone recommended that Iran raise the minimum age for marriage to 18 and
end the practice of forced and early marriages. South Korea asked Iran to end
all forced and early marriages involving young girls while Montenegro pointed
to laws that allow children below the age of 13 to marry pending a judge’s
permission.
In response to the
recommendations on forced and early marriages, Mohammad Javad Larijani, the
Head of the Human Rights Council of Iran’s judiciary, stated: “There are no
forced marriages in Iran, and in reality girls marry quite late.” However,
according to findings published by JFI official statistics point to the fact
that between 2006 and 2013 the rate of marriages involving girls below the age
of 15 increased steadily. Based on these statistics during the same period,
more than a third of the marriages registered, involved girls below the age of
19.
In addition to the
above, during its second UPR last Friday, the Islamic Republic received 11
recommendations from Latin American, European, Asian and North American
delegations regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. Iceland
recommended repealing laws that criminalise same-sex sexual conduct; amend laws
and policies that treat homosexuality as a mental disorder and outlaw forced
sterilisation and reparative therapies against gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender individuals and protect LGBT individuals against torture and other
ill-treatment. Furthermore, the Italian representative asked Iran to end discrimination
and violence on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and ensure
that forced sterilisation does not take place on grounds of gender identity.
Argentina
expressed its concerns regarding discrimination against sexual minorities and
homosexuals, recommending Iran stop execution of homosexuals.
Mohammad
Javad Larijani responded to the body of recommendations by saying: “Under no
circumstances do we accept any particular life style imposed on us in the name
of human rights.”
Mohammad Javad
Larijani responded to the body of recommendations by saying: “Until 70 years
ago all Western countries did not consider it a human rights violation to
proclaim an end to homosexuality, then considered an illness. But now that it
is prevalent in the West, you ask everyone to follow your way. This is venal
and not beneficial.” In his closing remarks he continued: “Under no
circumstances do we accept any particular life style imposed on us in the name
of human rights.”
Based on the
Islamic Republic Penal Code, consensual sexual relationship between two
homosexual adults is punishable by lashing and death. In addition, identifying
as a transgender through choice of clothing can result in a fine and 74 lashes.
Putting a stop to
executions, in particular cases involving juveniles, and public executions,
protection of the rights of religious minorities especially the Baha’is,
eradication of discrimination against sexual minorities and equal rights for
women, releasing political prisoners, protection of the freedom of expression,
investigation and improvement of prison conditions or claims of torture,
protection and security of journalists, ending violations against human rights
defenders, joining the International Convention for the Protection of All
Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Convention Against Torture, banning
the criminal charge of “infidel” (based on Islamic Sharia laws) and allowing
independence of the judiciary, are among other recommendations offered during
this three-hour-long session.
Universal Periodic
Review is a new mechanism of the United Nations, which requires all its member
states to present reports regarding the situation of human rights in their
respective countries to the international community. This takes place every
four years during specific sessions held at the seat of the Human Rights
Council in Geneva. All countries present recommendations and the recipient
country maintains the right to accept or reject them. Those it accepts, must be
implemented within the allotted four year period. During tomorrow’s
session on 4 November 2014, the Islamic Republic was given the chance to
express its views in relation to the recommendations it will accept to
implement over the next four years as well as those it will note.