Zahra Khodadadi calls for non-selective human rights at IPU meeting

Zahra Khodadadi, head of the Women's Faction of the Iranian Parliament, addressed the 12th meeting of young parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Uzbekistan. During her speeches, she emphasized that human rights must be applied non-selectively and without discrimination to be meaningful.

Addressing violence against women and youth, Khodadadi highlighted the need for prevention, victim support, and increased political participation. She specifically noted the rising threat of digital violence and called for safer digital environments and increased digital literacy to ensure sustainable political engagement for women and youth. She reported that since 2017, over 8,000 women in Iran have been empowered for governance roles, with women's presence in decision-making roles doubling in the last three years.

Khodadadi also criticized the international community's response to conflicts, stating that the normalization of war poses a threat to global society. She argued that silence regarding the violation of civilian rights, particularly the deaths of children in conflict zones, contributes to the normalization of such violence. She questioned why certain human rights issues in the West are discussed while others, such as the impact of wars on civilians, are overlooked.