Under US pressure campaign, Iran removed from UN women's body

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Dec 2022 20:07
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There are 29 votes in favor, eight against, and 16 abstentions.

The 5th plenary meeting of the ECOSOC regarding the removal of the Islamic Republic of Iran from membership in the Commission on the Status of Women (AFP)

Iran was ousted from a United Nations women's body on Wednesday for what is claimed to be policies contrary to the rights of women and girls.

The proposal was made by none other than the United States which suggested that Iran be expelled from a United Nations women's body for what it claimed are practices against the rights of women and girls, following the Western-fueled riots spurred by the death of Mahsa Amini.

The 54-member UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted a US-drafted resolution to "remove with immediate effect the Islamic Republic of Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women for the remainder of its 2022-2026 term."

29 members voted in favor, eight against, and 16 abstained.

Prior to the vote, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield argued before ECOSOC that Iran's participation was an "ugly stain on the integrity of the commission" and that its removal was the proper course of action.

Also prior to the voting, the Iranian UN envoy condemned the US move in drafting a resolution against Iran at the UN women's body, saying that Washington cannot stand seeing empowered Iranian women on the international stage.

Saeed Iravani made the comments at the UN 45-member women's commission, which was held on Wednesday to discuss a US-drafted resolution to remove Iran from the commission.

The Iranian permanent representative to the United Nations said whether Iran is a member of the commission or not, Iranian women and girls continue to participate actively and effectively on the international stage.

According to Iravani, the US illegal move toward Iran was expected considering its long-standing animosity towards the Iranian people, warning approving such a resolution will be extremely dangerous for the integrity of the UN system, as it would be in contradiction to the spirit and the soul of the UN Charter.

He referred to the American action as illegitimate and branded the country a bully.

After the resolution was passed, Iran's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Zahra Ershadi took the floor and condemned the US and certain countries for drafting the text, saying that Iran will remain committed to defending women and girls' rights regardless of the UN decision.

She said the US and its allies are in no position to call themselves women's rights defenders when they support the Israeli regime that blatantly violates the rights of Palestinian women and girls.

The 45-member Commission on the Status of Women meets annually every March and aims to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Iran and 17 states, including Palestine, had argued in a letter to ECOSOC on Monday that a vote "will undoubtedly create an unwelcome precedent that will ultimately prevent other Member States with different cultures, customs, and traditions ... from contributing to the activities of such Commissions."

Only five of the signatories to the letter are currently ECOSOC members and were able to vote on Wednesday.

In a related context, yesterday, the Netherlands, a US NATO ally, censured the United States-led political attempt to remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), emphasizing that the world body should be a venue for all members of the international community to arrive at a consensus.

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra argued that the CSW, dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, is a place for all UN member states to work together and build a consensus.

Australia, Canada, England, Guatemala, and New Zealand have already announced their support for Washington’s push to oust the Islamic Republic of Iran from the 45-member commission.