Iran faced global criticism at the 48th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Friday, as member nations denounced the country’s treatment of women, crackdown on dissent, and widespread use of the death penalty.

Nations including the United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland raised serious concerns over Iran’s human rights record, citing systemic discrimination against women and high execution rates. Paraguay’s representative stated: “We recommend Iran to refrain from applying the death penalty, abolish it, and introduce an immediate moratorium.” Switzerland also emphasized the need for disbanding Iran’s morality police and addressing socio-economic disparities affecting ethnic and religious minorities.

Ukraine criticized Iran for enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine through drone and missile supplies, accusing Tehran of violating international law. Germany expressed grave concerns over gender discrimination, the suppression of freedoms, and the high number of executions, urging Tehran to end the death penalty and guarantee fair trials. Costa Rica emphasized the need for reform in Iran’s judicial system, recommending the substitution of clerics with trained judges and lawyers who could better implement laws in line with international human rights standards.

Iran’s delegation, led by Deputy Minister for International and Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kazem Gharib Abadi, claimed significant progress had been made to improve citizens’ lives through substantial intellectual, human, and financial investments. Iran highlighted its commitment to the right to freedom of expression and access to information, calling it a fundamental human right and “a cornerstone for the realization of other human rights.” The delegation stated that Iran had taken measures to “respect, promote, and implement this right in all its forms.”

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a peer review mechanism examining the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. Initiated in 2008, the UPR ensures each country is reviewed every four to five years. This fourth review of Iran was webcast live from Geneva.