UN Secretary-General has confirmed the use of “reparative therapy” to “cure” persons of their same-sex attraction or gender non-conformity in his latest report on the situation of human rights in Iran to the General Assembly.
Referring to a 6Rang report, António Guterres pointed out that the only other choice put forward to the Iranian LGBT community is undergoing sex reassignment surgery or sterilization which are “below international clinical standards and often result in medical complications”. In addition, the report has highlighted that LGBT individuals are subjected to other malignant ‘aversion treatments’ such as the forced administration of hormones and medication.
UN Secretary-General has also raised concerns “that Iranian law continues to discriminate against and punish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals.” Read more via 6Rang
Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 73/181, by which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to report to it at its seventy fourth session on the progress made in the implementation of the resolution. The report thus presents the patterns and trends in the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran and recommendations to improve the implementation of the resolution.
excerpt
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons’ rights
51. The Secretary-General is concerned that Iranian law continues to discriminate against and punish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. The Penal Code criminalizes same-sex relations between consenting adults. The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of eight countries that imposes the death penalty for consensual same-sex relations (see A/HRC/29/23). Other expressions of gender and sexuality in public or online can also be punished by imprisonment, flogging and fines under the broad and vague provisions of the Penal Code (articles 638, 639 and 670).
52. The Computer Crimes Law (2009) criminalizes activities using computers to engage in “obscene content” and promoting “sexual perversion”. This vague definition is used by the authorities to restrict a wide range of online LGBT activities punishable with fines, imprisonment and the death penalty. 105 A 2018 survey of LGBT Iranians found over 80 per cent of respondents feared state surveillance of LGBT content online.106
53. United Nations human rights mechanisms have noted the continued discrimination, harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention, punishment and denial of rights of LGBT individuals (see CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4; CCPR/C/IRN/CO/3). 5
4. Legal and medical practices towards the LGBT community are also a conc ern. While domestic legislation does not prohibit a change of gender identity, it is viewed as a medical condition (gender identity disorder) addressed through sex reassignment surgery, supported by the State. The legal framework only provides the choice o f either undertaking so-called “reparative therapy” to “cure” persons of their same-sex attraction or gender non-conformity, or undergoing sex reassignment surgery or sterilization. According to information received by OHCHR, sex reassignment surgery procedures are below international clinical standards and often result in medical complications. Information to patients of such therapies on the risks, benefits and validity of such procedures is not available. LGBT individuals are also reportedly subjected to other harmful “aversion treatments”, such as the forced administration of hormones and medication.107