GOOD NEWS: Several democracies that previously endorsed Iran’s election to a top UN body have now changed their positions by vocally protesting the latest election of Iran to a key position, this time as a Vice-President of the UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Review Conference.
In April, UN Watch sparked outrage around the world after it revealed that numerous democracies — Canada, Australia, France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and Finland — joined in the consensus nomination of Iran to a key UN body that is now meeting to address women’s rights and terrorism prevention. The United States was the only member to object.
UN Watch’s exposé ignited a firestorm of international media attention, with lawmakers in multiple parliaments taking the floor to demand their governments oppose Iran’s election to crucial UN bodies.
Two weeks later, the UN did it again: they elected Iran a Vice-President of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Review Conference. But this time, under pressure from UN Watch’s spotlight, the UK, France, Germany, and Australia changed their positions. Suddenly, they took the floor to officially object to the election of Iran, and to condemn its non-compliance.
• United States: “Let me be clear. The United States does not agree that Iran is a leader on issues of nuclear non-proliferation. We are deeply shocked that this body has chosen to allow Iran to assume this position.”
• United Kingdom, France, and Germany: “We would like to put on record our concerns that Iran, a country found to be in non-compliance with its nuclear obligations, is to be elected to the body tasked with ensuring the effective functioning of this review conference.”
• Australia: “Australia does not support Iran for a leadership role at this review conference. Iran’s non-compliance with its obligations and ongoing threat to the countries of its region make it clear that it is unfit for such a position.”
UN Watch’s Reporting Goes Viral
UN Watch was the first to break the story on the UN selection of Iran to serve as Vice-President of a conference on nuclear non-proliferation, with our reporting seen by hundreds of thousands across social media. UN Watch was cited in media reports on Fox News, CTV News, and Canada’s Global News.
Democracies at the UN Must Be Held Accountable
As your voice at the United Nations, UN Watch will continue leading the fight to stop Iran and other regimes from securing leadership positions at the UN, and to pressure democratic countries to speak out forcefully against it. Democracies must stop enabling the Islamic regime — urge your elected officials to speak out.