Iran

Iran: Aotearoa New Zealand’s response to human rights violations in Iran

The New Zealand Government has taken a strong stance on human rights in Iran, including in response to the death of Mahsa Amini while detained by Iranian security forces, and the violent and malign actions by Iranian authorities against peaceful protesters seeking to exercise their rights to assembly and freedom of speech.  

These actions have been undertaken bilaterally, jointly with other countries, and in relevant multilateral forums, demonstrating the high level of importance that New Zealand attaches to these issues.

Since late-September 2022, New Zealand has:

• Unequivocally condemned the tragic death of Mahsa Amini and the subsequent use of violence against peaceful protestors, including through Ministerial statements (including jointly with other countries(external link)), press releases(external link), social media posts(external link), and directly to Iranian officials(external link) both in Wellington and in Tehran.
• Suspended bilateral mechanisms for engagement with Iran, including the bilateral human rights dialogue(external link).
• Co-sponsored the United Nations Third Committee (on Human Rights) resolution(external link) on human rights in Iran
• Played an early and central role in calling(external link) for a special session at the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Iran, building support for and co-sponsoring(external link) the resolution(external link) which establishes a fact-finding mission to investigate alleged human rights violations in Iran.
• Spearheading successful efforts(external link) to remove Iran from the membership(external link) of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
• Delivering a statement on the situation in Iran(external link) on behalf of the CANZ group (Canada, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand) to a United Nations Security Council Arria Formula meeting.
• Supporting statements and initiatives condemning different aspects of the Iranian government’s responses to the protests in Iran, including on internet shutdowns(external link), the lack of media freedom in Iran, and violence against women online(external link).
• Minister Mahuta has met with the Iranian Solidarity Group of Iranian-New Zealanders twice in November to hear their concerns; the Prime Minister also joined for part of the first meeting.
• Implemented travel bans(external link) on 22 members of the Iranian security forces connected to the death of Mahsa Amini and the violent response to subsequent protests.
• Sanctioned(external link) Iranian individuals and entities involved in the manufacture and supply of drones to Russia
• Condemned(external link) Iran’s use(external link) of the death penalty, including through a joint Foreign Ministers’ statement(external link) with Canada and Australia.)

Aotearoa New Zealand will continue to assess the situation and respond accordingly and appropriately to events as they unfold, with the tools available to us and where we assess they can have the most impact.