Iran Introduced as President of the Human Rights Council Social Forum

Introduction of Iran as the President of the Social Forum of the Human Rights Council

Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said this is a deeply concerning development. Appointing Iran’s ambassador, a representative of a country that egregiously and repeatedly violates human rights, to lead this group undermines the achievements of an organization whose services are already limited.

He stated that the U.S. opposed the creation of this forum in 2015 and has never participated in its meetings, and will not attend the 2023 session either.

Mr. Patel said the U.S. government is disappointed with the council’s decision to appoint Iran to lead this forum because the organization’s goal is to protect and promote human rights.

Václav Bálek, the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2023, informed member countries in a letter on Wednesday that the council’s social forum will be held on November 2nd and 3rd at the UN headquarters in Geneva, and Ali Bahreini, the ambassador and permanent representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the European headquarters of the UN in Geneva, will preside over this forum.