The assembly’s human rights committee approved the resolution by a vote of 72-50 with 55 abstentions. The draft now goes to the 192-member General Assembly for a final vote.
The draft resolution expresses "very serious concern" that despite previous resolutions by the General Assembly on the issue of human rights in Iran, there have been "confirmed instances" of violations including the use of stoning as a method of execution and various forms of degrading punishment and torture.
It also calls upon Iran’s government "to eliminate, in law and practice, all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to religious, ethnic, linguistic, or other minorities."
Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee had initially sought to block a vote on the draft by proposing a motion of "no action." It was defeated by a single vote, with 79 against, 78 in favor and 24 abstentions.
Canada’s U.N. Ambassador John McNee, in his statement said the sponsors looked forward to a day when the resolution is no longer necessary.
"We even look forward to the day where the government of Iran will simply acknowledge that it faces human rights issues. And one day, hopefully, the Iranian citizens themselves will be able to discuss and address human rights issues openly, without fear of persecution," he said.