On Friday, April 21, the United States criticized the human rights record of the Islamic Republic regarding women's issues, deeming the voting for Iran's membership in the UN gender equality agency as 'completely inappropriate.' The UN Economic and Social Council, consisting of 54 members, held a secret vote on Friday to elect the board of the UN Women agency, which was established in 2010 to promote gender equality and empower women. According to Reuters, 53 countries participated in the vote, with the United Arab Emirates and Samoa each receiving 53 votes, Turkmenistan with 52 votes, Pakistan with 49 votes, and Iran with 36 votes to be elected to the board. In response to this vote, Samantha Power, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, stated, 'The low total of votes Iran received today is evidence of the deep concerns that UN member states have regarding Iran's placement on the UN Women board.' Power added, 'In Iran, the law does not allow women to hold certain government positions, there is no law against domestic violence, and adultery is punished by stoning.' She continued, 'These issues make Iran taking on a leadership role in the area of women's welfare and rights at the UN completely inappropriate.' The U.S. Ambassador further emphasized that it is 'deeply discouraging' that the Asia-Pacific group supported Iran's candidacy for a three-year term starting January 1, 2016. The Iranian delegation at the UN has not yet responded to Reuters' request for comment on Samantha Power's statements. Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, stated last month that the human rights situation in Iran, including the status of women and activists in this field, has 'worsened' during Hassan Rouhani's presidency.
U.S.: Iran's Membership in UN Women’s Agency is Completely Inappropriate
The U.S. criticized Iran's election to the UN Women agency, citing its poor human rights record regarding women. Samantha Power highlighted issues such as lack of legal protections for women and severe punishments for adultery. This situation raises concerns among UN member states about Iran's role in promoting women's rights.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The U.S. criticized Iran's election to the UN Women agency due to its poor human rights record regarding women's rights. Samantha Power highlighted significant legal and social issues affecting women in Iran.
- Iran received only 36 votes in the election for the UN Women agency board, indicating widespread concerns among UN member states.
- The U.S. emphasized that Iran's laws and practices regarding women's rights make its role in the UN Women agency inappropriate.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has faced ongoing criticism for its treatment of women and human rights violations, impacting its credibility on international platforms focused on gender equality.
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