Joint Statement By Ambassador Ali Bahreini Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva On Behalf of a Group of Countries,  Before The Human Rights Council 56th Session Item 9: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance           Geneva, 8 July 2024   بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم     Thank you, Mr. President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of a group of countries. We reaffirm our commitment to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerances, including Islamophobia. We recall that “Zionism is a form of racism”[*], and along with apartheid actions, has violated all human rights of Palestinian people, including their inalienable right to self-determination. We recall the 2017 UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) report, which concluded that Israel has established “an apartheid regime” over Palestinians. We also reiterate the findings of the UN Special Rapporteur, who concluded the “existence of apartheid in Palestine”[†]. We emphasize that prohibition of racial discrimination and apartheid holds a jus cogens status in international law[‡] and also a “flagrant violation of the purposes and principles of the Charter”[§]. Pursuant to Article 41(2) of the International Law Commission’s Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, we assert that all States must not aid apartheid actions as specified in Article 16 of ARSIWA. We urge decisive action against Israeli entities involved in violating peremptory norms, such as embargoes on the unhindered arms transfers and enacting effective measures for instituting accountability.   [END OF JOINT STATEMENT]   [*] UN General Assembly, Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, A/RES/3379, UN General Assembly, 10 November 1975, ¶ 6. [†] Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. In Human Rights Council (Report A/HRC/49/87; pp. 2–3), ¶ 52. [‡] Internationals Law Commission, Draft conclusions on identification and legal consequences of peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens), with commentaries (2022), Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-third Session, Supplement No. 10, A/77/10, at 57, ¶ 23. [§] Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) Notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1971, ¶ 131.