At the 31st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Prevention Association of Social Harms (P.A.S.H.), amid criticizing the political approach of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, issued a statement on the rights of victims of drug trafficking in Iran, read by the representative of the Association in the assembly:

 

Mr. President,

The drugs crime in Iran can be considered from various aspects. Iran is situated in the main transit route of drugs produced in Afghanistan, and as a result it has caused extensive damages to people of Iran.

The use of drugs and substances in Iran has caused homicide, the effects of which the Coroner’s Organization of the country confirms. People who used these substances lose mental control and the main victims of these homicides are women and children. According to the Coroner’s Organization 8 people lose their lives to drug abuse each day.

Drug abuse in Iran extensively affects the breaking up of families and most figures for divorces are directly or indirectly due to drugs.

Also drugs in Iran have many negative effects on the health and safety of people and are some of the serious obstacles in the way of reaching sustainable development. The homeless who sleep on the streets in Iran are directly linked to drug abuse.

The mental and social costs for families who have addicted parents or children and also the cost of keeping and treating addicts, which are mainly provided by the government or NGOs, is very high.

We condemn the killing of human beings, whether they are innocent people who die of drug abuse or be it capital punishment for drugs crimes.

We commend the new approach of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the cooperation of the Islamic Parliament and the Judiciary for setting alternative punishments for drugs related crimes, and believe that this will greatly affect the reduction of executions for drugs related crimes and the promotion of citizen’s rights.

We believe that involvement in organized armed trafficking and trade in drugs, is the violation of the rights of the people, particularly victims of drugs abuse in Iran. Unfortunately in the Special Rapporteur on Iran’s reports, organized drugs crimes are not deemed as serious crimes, and this is a violation of the victims of drugs in Iran.

 

Mr. President,

As a nongovernmental organization that specialises in the prevention of social damages, we call upon the Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteur to review all aspects of the issue and with consideration of the rights of victims of drugs and also consultation with civil, religious and legislative bodies in Iran, to carefully consider the seriousness of drugs crimes in Iran. Without a doubt a political view of a totally cultural and social issue, will not only solve the problem but will also make it more complex.