A high-level side event titled “Atrocity Crimes in Iran: UN’s Findings and Next Steps” took place alongside the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, addressing the findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran (FFMI) and outlining urgent strategies for accountability and justice.
The panel examined the FFMI’s second report, which documented widespread and systematic human rights violations during Iran’s crackdown on peaceful protests. Experts and legal practitioners stressed the necessity of fully utilizing existing accountability mechanisms and called for the establishment of new frameworks within the UN Human Rights Council.
Key Discussions and Expert Insights
Professor Carla Ferstman, Director of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, emphasized the importance of sustained international attention on Iran’s human rights situation. She highlighted the role of evidence collection and documentation in ensuring that the crimes committed by Iranian authorities are not met with impunity. Ferstman also underlined the need for a well-coordinated approach involving both international and regional legal bodies to hold perpetrators accountable.
Regina Paulose, representing Justice Beyond Borders, explored the potential of non-conventional justice mechanisms, such as National Contact Points (NCPs), in addressing atrocity crimes. She underscored how these mechanisms could be leveraged to expand the horizons of accountability, particularly by engaging states and actors from the Global South. Paulose argued that a more decentralized, globalized approach to justice could help counteract political obstacles within established international institutions.
Colleen Rohan, an experienced defense lawyer at international courts and a member of the panel of judges at the Iran Atrocities (Aban) Tribunal, focused on the legal precedents for prosecuting crimes against humanity. She reiterated that the FFMI’s findings provide a strong basis for international action, including the use of universal jurisdiction. Rohan pointed out that Iran’s domestic judiciary lacks independence, making international legal avenues the only viable path to justice for victims and survivors.
In addition to these expert insights, video messages from members of the FFMI reinforced the need for immediate and concrete steps toward accountability. The speakers collectively urged the international community, particularly Human Rights Council member states, to take decisive action against impunity by implementing the FFMI’s recommendations.
Call to Action
The event concluded with a call for global mobilization to ensure that justice mechanisms remain inclusive of all victims, including marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+ individuals and ethnic and religious minorities. Panelists stressed that in the absence of viable legal remedies within Iran, international actors must employ all available tools, including universal jurisdiction and corporate human rights responsibility, to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent future atrocities.
The discussion reinforced the crucial role of international cooperation in addressing Iran’s ongoing human rights crisis, with experts urging states to prioritize justice and accountability in their engagement with the Iranian government.
