Washington, DC — The Senate unanimously passed a resolution yesterday condemning human rights violations in Iran and urging the UN Human Rights Council to fully investigate the events following last June’s presidential election. The resolution, S. Res. 415, expressed the Senate’s support for freedom of speech and assembly in Iran, and demanded that Iran uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), the lead author of the resolution, called special attention to the UN’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review of human rights in Iran in a press release today. “This UN review could not come at a better time and I call upon the member states to take their responsibility seriously.” S. Res. 415 expressed deep concern about Iran’s unwillingness to cooperate with UN Special Rapporteurs on human and civil rights. Also sponsoring the resolution were Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Carl Levin (D-MI), John Kerry (D-MA) and Ted Kaufman (D-DE). |
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