Hengaw’s Seventh Anniversary: Reflecting on Our Human Rights Work in Iran and Expanding Our Mandate

Human rights are the universal and inalienable rights that every human being is entitled to, regardless of their race, nationality, language, gender, religion, or belief. These rights reflect the dignity and worth of each person and are recognized by international law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the foundation of these norms, establishing the minimum requirements for human rights and making states responsible for their respect and protection.
 

However, many states around the world fail to respect, protect, and fulfill their human rights obligations. Among them, the Islamic Republic of Iran stands out as a particularly egregious case, as it has systematically and brutally violated the rights of its own people and those of its neighboring countries since its establishment in 1979.

The Islamic Republic has violated the rights of women, children, workers, religious minorities, ethnic minorities, and national minorities. It has committed killings, suppressed freedom of expression, belief, and assembly, discriminated against and persecuted minorities, and denied them the right to self-determination and political participation.
 

Human rights organizations are essential actors in the protection and promotion of human rights, as they monitor and report on the violations committed by states and other actors, as well as raise awareness and mobilize the public to claim and exercise their human rights.

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights is one of these organizations. We have been carrying out independent and impartial monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Iran, in compliance with the principles of international human rights law. We have strongly denounced the Islamic Republic’s human rights violations against all Iranian citizens. Simultaneously, we have also devoted special attention to the human rights situation in Iranian Kurdistan, where the violations have intensified since Khomeini’s jihad fatwa against Kurdish people.
 

Our work began with the objective of protecting human rights in Iranian Kurdistan. However, in response to the recent human rights crisis in Iran, such as the violent repression and killings of demonstrators after the murder of Jina Amini and the initiation of the “Women, life, freedom” Movement, we have broadened our mandate to encompass the entire country.
 

As we mark our seventh anniversary, Hengaw reaffirms its dedication to the fundamental principles of human rights law. In this regard, we strive to strengthen our activities to advance the human rights situation in Iran by using all available mechanisms to advocate for and protect human rights in Iran.
 

We would like to emphasize that Hengaw is an exile human rights organization registered in Norway, without any affiliation to any political group or party. We are a team of lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders who volunteer with this organization.
 

Hengaw Oslo, Norway October 9, 2023