39th special session of the HRC: Resolution on the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran
The thirty-ninth special session of the Human Rights Council was held on Friday, 23rd January 2026, following an official request, supported by 18 state members of the Council and 30 observer states, to address the deteriorating human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The adopted resolution extends the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran for 2 years and the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, today held by Mai Sato, for one year. The resolution also called for an urgent investigation by the Fact-Finding Mission, in the context of the repression of nationwide protests beginning 28 December 2025.
On 28 December 2025, severe economic hardships ignited demonstrations across Iran that became a nationwide movement, with men and women from diverse ethnic and religious groups demanding political change. Iranian authorities have responded with violence and the situation started deteriorating dramatically on 8 January 2026, with authorities implementing a near-total internet and telecommunications shutdown. Authorities have reported over 3,000 deaths including security forces, while some civil society estimated up to tens of thousands, though these figures could not be verified due to the internet shutdown.
Violent crackdown of peaceful protests has resulted in the deaths of thousands of persons, including children, and large numbers of injured individuals, as well as the arrest of thousands.
The Resolution urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect, protect and fulfil its human rights obligations and to take all measures necessary to stop and prevent extrajudicial killing, other forms of arbitrary deprivation of life, enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, incommunicado detention and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including against peaceful protesters.