WANA (Dec 18) – The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday approved an annual human rights resolution against Iran, proposed by Canada. However, the resolution once again failed to secure majority support, with the combined number of votes against and abstentions exceeding those in favor.

 

The resolution garnered only 80 votes in favor, while 27 countries voted against it, and 68 abstained. The total number of opposing and abstaining votes, 95, outweighed those supporting the resolution.

 

Last month, on November 21, the resolution was similarly approved in the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, but with limited support—receiving 77 votes in favor, 28 against, and 66 abstentions. An additional 22 member states were absent during the vote.

 

This politically motivated resolution, introduced annually by Canada, targets Iran under the pretext of human rights concerns. It is first debated in the Third Committee, which deals with “human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs.”

 

The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently dismissed the resolution as biased and politically charged, accusing Canada of using human rights as a tool to attack Iran.

 

During Tuesday’s General Assembly session, Iran’s representative categorically rejected the resolution, labeling it as an unwarranted and politically driven action against the country.

 

Previously, Zahra Ershadi, Iran’s ambassador and deputy representative to the United Nations, had also expressed firm opposition to Canada’s annual politically motivated anti-Iran human rights resolution stating, “The Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects the unjust and politically driven resolution on the human rights situation in our country. While we acknowledge that there is always room for improvement, it is crucial to highlight the selective, biased, and hypocritical nature of this resolution.”