the wetlands in the country, with two of them being located in Khuzestan in critical state.38 39 In 2019, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran reported that it made significant financial investments to reduce the effect of dust in Khuzestan Province on the environment,40 yet the inhabitants of Khuzestan still see their water resources decline as they are rerouted toward other provinces and cities. Further, a significant number of protests against diminishing water resources and pollution in Khuzestan41 42 43 44 have been reportedly repressed by Iranian authorities and a number of environment activists have been arrested and detained.45 46 Yet, in 2016, UNESCO mentioned the Islamic Republic of Iran as the main party responsible for the deterioration of the ecosystem of the wetlands in the country, two of them are (were) located in Khuzestan, in critical state.47 48 In 2019, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran reported that it engaged in significant financial investments to reduce the effect of dust in Khuzestan Province in recent years,49 yet the Khuzestan inhabitants still see their water resources decline to the profit of other provinces and cities. Further, a significant number of protests against diminishing water resources and pollution in Khuzestan50 51 52 53 have been reportedly repressed by Iranian authorities65 and a number of environment activists have been arrested and detained.54 55 The Islamic Republic of Iran has not taken urgent steps to counter the impact of river diversion and industrial activity in Khuzestan, including environmental pollution and water shortages. Recommendation status: This recommendation has NOT been implemented. 38 UNESCO, http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6794 The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2015/apr/16/iran-khuzestan-environment-wetlands-dust-pollution 40 Report of the Secretary General on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, February 2019. https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G19/028/77/PDF/G1902877.pdf?OpenElement 41 Middle East Eye, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/protests-over-pollution-irans-khuzestan-province-national-threat 42 Radio Liberty, https://www.rferl.org/a/protesters-police-clash-for-second-night-in-southwestern-iran/29333107.html 43 Report of the Secretary General on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, February 2019. https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G19/028/77/PDF/G1902877.pdf?OpenElement 44 See www.isna.ir/news/97041105927/ 45 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, July 2019. https://undocs.org/A/74/188 46 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. https://undocs.org/en/A/72/322 47 UNESCO, http://whc.unesco.org/en%20/decisions/6794 48 The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2015/apr/16/iran-khuzestan-environment-wetlands-dust-pollution 49 Report of the Secretary General on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, February 2019. https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G19/028/77/PDF/G1902877.pdf?OpenElement 50 Middle East Eye, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/protests-over-pollution-irans-khuzestan-province-national-threat 51 Radio Liberty, https://www.rferl.org/a/protesters-police-clash-for-second-night-in-southwestern-iran/29333107.html 52 Report of the Secretary General on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, February 2019. https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G19/028/77/PDF/G1902877.pdf?OpenElement 53 See www.isna.ir/news/97041105927/ 54 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, July 2019. https://undocs.org/A/74/188 55 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. https://undocs.org/en/A/72/322 39 5