Arcdh
Press Release by ArcDH
Geneva, Switzerland – October 6, 2023 — The 54th Session of the Human Rights Council, held on October 6, 2023, convened to discuss pressing global issues.
Item 9: General debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, followup to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action – General Debate
Mrs. Jaleh Tabrizi, the director of the ArcDH Association for Human Rights of Azerbaijanis in Iran delivered her speech on October 6. She stated that “22 Years after the Durban Declaration and Program of Action, racism and racial discrimination still permeate the Institutions, social structures and daily life.’
She turned the spotlight on Iran, where the minority nations and ethnic minorities are being subjected to systemic discrimination and harassment due to racist policies.
A significant concern raised by her was on the continued denial of the right to education in their mother language for non-Persian children. She underpinned the urgent need for a fact-finding mission to investigate discrimination and racism in Iran.
The prevalence of hatred against Azerbaijanis in Iran was underlined by her as a concerning issue, with evidence with actual incitement of hatred in school curricula, as well asvarious facets of the society, including sports and the media.
She raised issues on the profile of women belonging to national and ethnic minorities face a double burden of discrimination in Iran. Azerbaijani women, in particular, are subjected to multiple forms of discrimination. Recent incidents, such as the peaceful demonstrations by women in Tabriz against the policies of Iranian authorities drying up intentionally Lake Urmia, which is in a dire situation now. Security forces reportedly insulted, humiliated, threatened, and summoned six women, including Mrs. Roqayeh Kabiri and Nigar Khiyavi, in front of the office of the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz.
She recommended and insisted on behalf of the Arc (or Ark) Association that the Islamic Republic of Iran ought to end the systemic, political, economic, social and cultural discrimination against Azerbaijanis, and other non-Persians nations and ethnic minorities.
The 54th Session of the Human Rights Council continues to deliberate on various global human rights issues, with a focus on addressing discrimination and promoting equality and justice worldwide.
By Saeid, Berlin, [08/10/2023]