Secretary's Remarks: UN General Assembly Resolution on Iran's Human Rights Violations
UN General Assembly Resolution on Iran's Human Rights Violations
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 22, 2010
The United States welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution calling on the Government of Iran to fully respect its
human rights obligations. This resolution also reiterates the need for Iran to permit credible and independent
investigations of all allegations of human rights violations.
The international community is deeply concerned about ongoing human rights abuses in Iran and the plight of Iranian
citizens facing persecution at the hands of their government. Yesterday’s UN resolution recognizes the severity of this
troubling situation, particularly the continued harassment, persecution, and violent repression of political opponents,
human rights defenders, and a wide variety of civil society representatives. It reflects our concern that an increasing
number of Iranian political prisoners have had to undertake life-threatening hunger strikes in order to invoke their
minimal due process protections. These rights are enumerated in Iran’s own constitution and called for under Iran’s
international treaty obligations.
To all those Iranians struggling to lift your voices and speak up for fundamental freedoms and human rights, you are not
alone. The United States and the international community stand with you.
ENDS