In the Name of God

His Excellency Mr. António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations

Subject: Aggressive Attacks by the Israeli Regime and Violations of International Humanitarian Law and Women’s Rights

Your Excellency,
As you are aware, in the early hours of Friday, 13 June 2025, while Iranian families—children, mothers, and fathers—were resting peacefully in their homes, the occupying Zionist regime, with extensive military, intelligence, and political support from Western countries that claim to uphold human rights, launched a military aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is a blatant violation of international law, including Article 2 (Clause 4) of the United Nations Charter prohibiting the threat or use of force, targeting of civilians, residential areas, and vital non-military infrastructure such as hospitals, medical centers, nuclear facilities, and scientists. These unlawful attacks resulted in the martyrdom of hundreds of innocent Iranian citizens—particularly women and children—and left hundreds more wounded, inflicting irreparable physical, psychological, and emotional harm on mothers, women, and children.
In blatant disregard for its international obligations and Security Council resolutions, the Israeli regime attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, endangering the lives of millions of civilians and increasing the risk of a regional radiooactive disaster.
Through its brutal military invasion of Iranian territory and its repeated and deliberate attacks on civilian areas and critical infrastructure, the Israeli regime has caused widespread death and injury among women, children, and other non-combatants.
Repeated assaults on civilian sites—including hospitals, clinics, and residential buildings such as Hakim and Farabi Hospitals—constitute not only grave and explicit violations of international humanitarian law but also clear examples of war crimes. Pregnant women, mothers, and children have been severely affected, with many suffering serious physical and psychological trauma. Some children have experienced acute mental health crises, including cardiac incidents, due to extreme psychological stress.
It is evident and undeniable that the Israeli regime’s aggressive attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran and its indiscriminate and savage strikes, conducted in clear violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, represent a flagrant breach of international law, including the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and various human rights laws. These acts are undeniable manifestations of unwarranted aggression and war crimes. They reflect the regime’s hostility toward human dignity and values and pose a serious threat to principles such as "right to life," "peace," "security," "humanity," and "family."
At a time when the occupying Israeli regime blatantly disregards its basic obligations to uphold the fundamental rights of women, the United Nations—entrusted with the protection of human rights—faces a historic test. Undoubtedly, inaction or silence by the United Nations in the face of such atrocities would only embolden the regime, granting it implicit legitimacy and encouraging the continuation of its crimes against civilians, especially women and children.
Accordingly, it is expected that the United Nations will unequivocally and urgently condemn the Israeli regime’s aggressive and inhumane attacks on civilian populations and infrastructure, and employ all diplomatic tools at its disposal to stop this aggression and prevent further humanitarian and health crises in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Specifically, we urge the UN to:
1. Prepare and publish an independent, detailed report on the Israeli regime’s violations of international humanitarian law and their extensive impact on women and children in affected regions;
2. Call upon member states to immediately honor and employ their legal obligations and instruments to halt the aggression by the Israeli regime and ensure its compliance with humanitarian law;
3. Expedite collaboration with other international bodies to provide medical, psychological, and legal support to affected women and children;
4. Undertake all necessary measures to hold Israeli officials accountable and ensure judicial prosecution for crimes committed, particularly those against women and children, to prevent impunity.

Silence and inaction in the face of these crimes equate to complicity in the continued commission of war crimes and human rights violations. The time has come to stand firmly with the victims and uphold the human rights of women and children with sincerity and resolve.
Please accept Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Zahra Behrouz Azar
Vice President for Women and Family Affairs
Islamic Republic of Iran

CC:
Ms. Sima Bohous – Deputy of the Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Women
Mr. Volker Turk – The High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations
Mr. Jürg Lauber – The President of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
Ms. Maritza Chan Valverde – Chairperson of UN Commission on the Status of Women