Thank you Mr. Chairman,

The Maldives delegation takes note of the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. We also welcome the Report of the Secretary-General, and the recommendations it contains.

Mr Chairman,

The Maldives welcomes the constructive participation by the Islamic Republic of Iran in its Universal Period Review process this year, and hopes for a consistent and credible effort to implement the accepted recommendation of the UPR process, as a way forward to increase its cooperation and involvement in the international human rights machinery. We believe that such a discourse would contribute greatly to the discussions surrounding the situation of human rights, as an opportunity to exchange the genuine views of Iran to the UN system in an open, non-politicised and transparent manner.

In this regard, we call upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to seriously consider the requests from the UN system to visit Iran at the earliest possible opportunity.

Mr Chairman,

I also wish to use the opportunity of the interactive dialogue to pose a question to the Special Rapporteur regarding his future area of focus;

To what extent has UN sanctions, and other punitive measures impacted the human rights of ordinary Iranians, and the ability of the Iranian Government to fulfil its international human rights obligations?

And, how do you plan to work with various international partners and the Iranian authorities to examine the impact of sanctions on human rights of the Iranian people?

I thank you Mr. Chairman