The Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted by consensus draft resolution L.38 on the human rights implications of Iranian attacks targeting GCC countries and Jordan.
The resolution was adopted during an urgent debate held as part of the Council’s 61st session, following a request submitted by Bahrain on behalf of GCC states and Jordan, with the support of 106 co-sponsoring countries.
The resolution includes a clear and unequivocal condemnation of the attacks carried out by Iran, which targeted civilians and vital infrastructure, resulting in loss of life and significant damage. It affirms that such acts constitute serious violations of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
It also highlights the gravity of targeting states not party to any conflict and the direct impact on the enjoyment of fundamental rights, as well as broader implications for regional stability and global supply chains.
The resolution further requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide a briefing on these developments.
During the session, Bahrain’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva Abdulla Abdulla delivered the kingdom’s statement on the human rights implications of the unprovoked attacks targeting GCC states and Jordan. A number of countries also delivered statements during the session.
In his statement, Mr Abdulla noted that the session was convened at a particularly sensitive time, as Bahrain continues to face ongoing military attacks by Iran, in clear violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.
He said the attacks have targeted civilian areas in Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, resulting in civilian casualties and injuries, as well as damage to civilian infrastructure, including vital facilities and service utilities.
The permanent representative affirmed that the targeting of civilian infrastructure and critical infrastructure constitutes a clear violation of international law, including rules relating to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and directly undermines the enjoyment of fundamental rights guaranteed under international human rights law, foremost among them the right to life and the right to personal security, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
He added that, under these circumstances, national institutions in Bahrain continue to fulfil their responsibilities to protect the population and ensure public safety.
The permanent representative stressed that these attacks constitute, under international law, an unlawful use of force in violation of the United Nations Charter.
In this context, he reaffirmed the inherent right of Bahrain to self-defence and to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
He also commended United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, recently adopted, which strongly condemned the missile and drone attacks carried out by Iran against GCC countries and Jordan, and called for their immediate cessation.
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