Association for Human Rights in Kurdistan of Iran Thank you, Mr. President. In respect to the important statements made by the Special Rapporteur, Chairperson and Madame ? regarding the minority youth's participation in public life, I would like to make a few contributions regarding the legal and practical challenges that the Kurdish youth and other minorities face with regard to their participation in public life in Iran. Iran is party to five of nine international core treaties, including the ICCPR. Despite its international obligations, Iran's constitution, Articles 1, 4, 12, and 15, deprive ethnic members of access to education in mother tongue, to higher education and public and political participation. Iran's application of the Ghouzinesh Law, Article 105, a selection procedure requiring prospective state officials and employees, to demonstrate allegiance to the Islamic Republic and the state's shared religion constitutes also a major barrier to employment opportunities and political participation for the members of Kurdish ? faith followers, Bahai, Baluchi, Jewish, Ahvazi, Arab, Azerbaijani, Turk, Turkmen and Armenian communities. Iran's State universities equally use Guzinesh discriminatory law to limit the admission of Kurdish, Baha'i and other minority students implying a negative impact on their participation in economic life. Iran's deliberate policies of denying the rights of ethnic groups constitute the foundation for grave human rights violations. Its targeted persecution of ethnic nationalities create an instability not only for the state and the diverse fabric of society, but also for region as a whole. In the end, we demand the United Nations and state members, in particular the EU government, the Special Rapporteur, to factor human rights, including the rights of ethnic groups, into all bilateral dealings with Iran.