On December 10th, 1948, at the General Assembly of the United Nations, Iran voted in favor of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In doing so it has solemnly pledged to keep this Declaration "constantly in mind, to strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance."

Iran has signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on April 4th, 1968. As a party to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran has the obligation to "respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."