The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 31/19...

...Serious concern about laws and practices that restrict or violate the rights of free association and peaceful assembly in the Islamic Republic of Iran persist. Insufficient protections for these rights continue to compromise the independence of political, professional and labour groups, including trade unions. The situation of human rights defenders, including lawyers who defend political and human rights activists, remains of deeply concern. In its response, the Government notes that 126 ”guilds” are active in the country and that their assemblies must be authorized...

...The Special Rapporteur welcomes recent efforts to address both violence against women and inequities in education and economic participation. He encourages the Government to continue to amend laws in line with its legal obligations and pledges made during the universal periodic review to protect the equal and full enjoyment by women of their civil, political, social and economic rights, including the right to freedom of movement, the right to work and the right to be free from discrimination, especially in the workplace...