Geneva: 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 the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The resolution was adopted during an urgent debate held as part of the Council's 61st session, following a request submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain on behalf of GCC states and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with the support of 106 co-sponsoring countries.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the resolution includes a clear and unequivocal condemnation of the attacks carried out by the Islamic Republic of 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, Ambassador Abdulla Abdullatif Abdulla, delivered the Kingdom's national statement on the human rights implications of the unprovoked attacks targeting GCC states and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. A number of countries also delivered national statements during the session.
In his statement, the Permanent Representative noted that the session was convened at a particularly sensitive time, as the Kingdom of Bahrain continues to face ongoing military attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran, in clear violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.
He stated that the attacks have targeted civilian areas in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of 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 the Kingdom of Bahrain continue to fulfil their responsibilities to protect the population and ensure public safety. In recent days, Bahrain Defence Force air defence systems have intercepted a significant number of missiles and drones targeting the Kingdom. The Ministry of Interior, civil defence authorities, medical services, and other relevant institutions continue to operate around the clock to safeguard lives and property, maintain public order, and provide necessary support to the population in response to the attacks.
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 the Kingdom 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 the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and called for their immediate cessation. He noted that, as the Human Rights Council considers the human rights implications of these attacks, the Kingdom of Bahrain underscores the importance of the Council fulfilling its mandate to highlight their impact on the enjoyment of human rights in affected countries, in line with its role in promoting and protecting human rights and addressing violations.
The Permanent Representative concluded by reaffirming the Kingdom of Bahrain's longstanding commitment to respect for international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as the principles of good neighbourliness and mutual respect among states. He expressed hope that the deliberations of the urgent debate would contribute to reinforcing these principles and send a clear message on the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to ensure full respect for international law and human rights.