UN Human Rights Council to Hold Emergency Session on Iran Situation

Geneva, January 20, 2026 The United Nations Human Rights Council has announced that it will hold an urgent special meeting on the worsening human rights situation in Iran. The session will take place on Friday, January 23, following growing international concern over reports of violence and repression linked to ongoing anti-government protests in the country. The decision came after a formal request by five countries — Britain, Germany, Iceland, Moldova and North Macedonia. According to UN officials, the request received support from more than one-third of the council’s 47 member states, which is the minimum required to convene a special session. Council spokesperson Pascal Sim confirmed the development while speaking to reporters in Geneva. In their letter to the council’s president, the requesting nations referred to credible reports of severe violence, a harsh crackdown on protesters and serious violations of international human rights law across Iran. The move follows a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York last week, where the situation in Iran was also discussed amid widespread unrest. Iran has been witnessing one of the largest waves of anti-government protests in its history. Human rights groups say the situation is difficult to assess fully due to an ongoing internet shutdown, now in its 11th day. Despite these challenges, the Iran Human Rights organisation has claimed it has verified the deaths of 3,428 protesters allegedly killed by security forces, warning that the actual number may be much higher. Iranian authorities have not released an official death toll, and the figures cannot be independently confirmed by the UN Human Rights Council Calls Emergency Meeting on Iran Crisis The United Nations Human Rights Council has decided to hold an urgent special session to discuss the rapidly worsening human rights situation in Iran. The meeting is scheduled for January 23 and comes amid growing global concern over reports of violence and heavy action taken against protesters across the country. The special session was requested by Britain, Germany, Iceland, Moldova and North Macedonia. Their proposal received the backing of more than one-third of the council’s 47 member states, which is required for such a meeting to be approved. UN Human Rights Council spokesperson Pascal Sim confirmed the development while briefing the media in Geneva. In a letter sent to the council’s president, the five countries pointed to credible reports of alarming violence, large-scale crackdowns on demonstrators and serious violations of international human rights law in Iran. The move follows a recent discussion at the UN Security Council in New York, where the situation in Iran was also taken up due to the intensity of the ongoing protests. Iran is facing one of the biggest protest movements in its history, but assessing the situation has become difficult because of a nationwide internet shutdown that has lasted for 11 days. Human rights group Iran Human Rights has said it has confirmed the deaths of 3,428 protesters, while warning that the actual number could be higher. The figures have not been officially confirmed by Iranian authorities, and independent verification remains challenging.