Iran's appointment to chair the 2023 UN Human Rights Council Social Forum

14.6.2023

Question for written answer  E-001936/2023/rev.1
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
Gianna Gancia (ID)

The appointment of Ali Bahreini, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, to chair the 2023 United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Social Forum (2 and 3 November 2023), is nothing more than a slap in the face given the human rights situation of most Iranians, particularly women, and the repeated executions in the wake of the ongoing protests in the country and, more generally, the Islamic Republic's gross human rights violations and its catastrophic and politicised handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, when its refusal to import Western vaccines cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

Given that Ali Bahreini was chosen from among other candidates, can the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union say:

• 1.Whether he intends to take action to remove Ali Bahreini from this post?
• 2.What role did the EU play in Mr Bahreini’s appointment as chair of the 2023 UN Human Rights Council Social Forum?
• 3.What concrete measures is the EU taking to restore respect for human rights in Iran?

Submitted:14.6.2023