73rd Session of the UNHCR Executive Committee, International Protection 13 October 2022

Statement By Ambassador Ali Bahreini Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN And other international organizations in Geneva Before 73rd Session of the UNHCR Executive Committee (ExCom) Item 4

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

Statement

By

Ambassador Ali Bahreini

            Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN

And other international organizations in Geneva

Before

73rd Session of the UNHCR Executive Committee (ExCom)

Item 4: International Protection

Geneva, 13 October 2022

 

Madam vice chair,

High Commissioner,

Distinguished Delegates,

At the outset, I would like to express the Islamic Republic of Iran’s gratitude to UNHCR, the High commissioner, and its tireless staff for all efforts they have done to mitigate the suffering of refugees and other displaced persons all around the world. 

The Islamic Republic of Iran has spared no efforts to host and protect millions of refugees and other sorts of Afghan nationals, among others, who have arrived at Iran’s territory legally or illegally for close to half a century.

During this course, Iran’s national authorities, have lent a wide range of support mostly on equal terms with Iranians. Refugees and all undocumented Afghan nationals have been freely included in national education programs regardless of their legal status. They have enjoyed public health insurance in particular during the pandemic and COVID-19 preventive and curative assistance. Iran has also taken significant steps toward the prevention and reduction of statelessness in the country including by adoption of new nationality law in 2019.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has endured exorbitant and heavy costs in dealing with refugees and unauthorized border crossings almost single-handedly, and the international organizations and donor countries have allocated very small amounts of resources which have failed to duly cover refugees' needs. Against this backdrop, establishing an effective mechanism for measuring the impact and cost of hosting remains an indispensable missing chain for fulfilling the principle of fair, equitable, and predictable burden – and responsibility-sharing.

At the same time, according to the report of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, the economic impact of sanctions, the restrictions on financial transactions and delivery, and donors’ reported reduced interest have adversely affected Iran’s capacity to protect and humanitarian actors’ ability to implement projects, including the provision of basic goods, and construction of schools and health centers.

Chairperson,

While noting the centrality of protection for humanitarian agencies like UNHCR, we believe that protection should be provided in ways that are conducive to solutions. Protection and solutions should be seen as two wings of the international legal framework for refugees and the achievement of solutions must be the ultimate goal of protection. Therefore, these two objectives must be pursued with the same enthusiasm by UNHCR and the international community as a whole.

However, the ongoing volatile security situation in Afghanistan continues to limit large-scale prospects for sustainable repatriation in the region. The low rate of voluntary repatriation of refugees in recent years, should be considered as an alarm to the international refugee protection system.

Chairperson,

Regarding UNHCR’s reference to nonconsensual languages on sexual orientations, my delegation aligns itself with the statement of the OIC. Bringing in politically sensitive and controversial notions, concepts, and language by the Secretariat would undermine the work of this body. These concerns lack universal acceptance and consensus. My delegation reserves its position on the use of terms that do not enjoy international consensus in particular in paragraph 47 of the UNHCR’s Note on International Protection (A/AC.96/1222).

The Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to cooperating with UNHCR and other members of the international community to do its best in alleviating the plight of forcibly displaced people, in line with its fair share.  

I thank you