Approval of UN Resolution Against Human Rights Violations in Iran with Unprecedented Support from 25 Countries
December 24, 2025; In a special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council dedicated to reviewing documented reports of killings and the violent suppression of popular protests in Iran, a resolution was approved with a record 25 votes in favor, 7 against, and 14 abstentions. This move represents one of the highest levels of international support for a human rights resolution against Iran and emphasizes the importance of pursuing human rights violations and the accountability of the perpetrators of recent violence.
On Friday, December 24, 2025, the special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council concluded with the approval of a resolution regarding the human rights situation in Iran. This resolution was passed with 25 votes in favor, 7 against, and 14 abstentions; a statistic that is considered one of the highest levels of international support for human rights resolutions related to Iran in the history of the Human Rights Council. According to official results, more than 50 percent of the council members voted in favor of this resolution. Previously, only in 2013 had a resolution regarding Iran managed to gain a higher level of support than the current figure, with 26 votes in favor.
Broad Cross-Regional Support and Shift in Voting Balance;
This resolution, as in recent years, enjoyed broad cross-regional support. Half of the supporting countries are from the regions of Latin America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific; a fact that indicates a global concern regarding the human rights situation in Iran that goes beyond traditional political blocs.
In this context, Bolivia changed its vote from "negative" to "positive" following internal political changes, and Ghana also supported the resolution for the first time after years of abstaining. Conversely, Malawi changed its vote from positive to abstaining, and Mauritius, despite supporting the convening of the special session, did not participate in the final voting.
Last-Minute Amendment to Gain Maximum Support;
During this session, the text of the resolution was accompanied by an urgent amendment in the final minutes. With the aim of attracting the opinion of Latin American countries, a reference to "Article 2 of the United Nations Charter" regarding the prohibition of the "threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of states" was added to the text. This diplomatic move was able to pave the way for gaining broader support from the countries of this region.
Consequences and Legal Importance of this Resolution;
The approval of this resolution with a historic quorum of 25 votes, beyond a symbolic condemnation, signifies international legitimization of the reports of human rights violations and the continuation of official UN monitoring of the Iran case. This broad consensus, which now also carries the unprecedented support of non-Western countries, has significantly increased the "diplomatic cost" of suppression and, by officially documenting events (such as recent killings and arrests), further blocks the path to escaping accountability for the perpetrators; an occurrence that will ultimately strengthen the necessary legal foundation for the administration of justice and legal prosecution in international authorities.
