Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday that the United States would seek to exclude Iran from the 45-member United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), amid ongoing protests in Iran by the Biden administration. He pledged to continue supporting Iranian women.
“The United States believes that no country that systematically violates the rights of women and girls should have a role in any international or UN body charged with protecting these very same rights,” Harris said. rice field. statement From the White House on November 2nd
“Iran has shown itself unfit to serve on this Commission through its denial of women’s rights and brutal crackdown on its own people. It undermines the integrity of our efforts to help,” she said.
of United Nations CSW An international intergovernmental organization that promotes gender equality and women’s rights worldwide.
Members of the Commission are elected for four years by the 54-member United Nations Economic and Social Council and meet each March.
Current members include 13 from Africa, 11 from Asia, 9 from Latin America and the Caribbean, 8 from Western Europe and other states, and 4 from Eastern Europe.
Iran has just started a four-year term on the Commission, and its membership expires in 2026.
Public Trial of Protesters
Harris’ announcement comes amid widespread protests across Iran since Sept. 16 following the death of 22-year-old Martha Amini, who died in Tehran while in Iran’s “morality police” custody.
Amini was reportedly detained for “improperly dressed.” Police said she suffered a heart attack and fell into a coma while in her custody, but reports soon surfaced that she was beaten by police.
Protests continue across Iran despite warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that they will take tougher measures to suppress demonstrators.
Last week, Iranian authorities said there would be public trials for about 1,000 people who had taken part in the protests and allegedly “performed sabotage in recent events, including beatings of security guards and martyrdom.” [and] Set public property on fire. ”
“This is why today the United States is announcing its intention to work with partners to exclude Iran from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women,” Harris said. “We will continue to hold accountable Iranian officials and groups responsible for violence against protesters.”
earlier this week open letter Women, including former First Lady Michelle Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, called on UN member states to exclude Iran from the CSW.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s long-standing systematic oppression of women should have disqualified women from the CSW elections,” the letter said. “Each day Iran continues to be a member of the Commission on the Status of Women, the commission loses credibility.”
Iranian officials have accused foreign enemies, including the US, Israel, the UK and Saudi Arabia, of instigating mass protests destabilizing the country, a accusation the leaders of these countries deny. .
The Epoch Times has reached out to the UN mission in Iran for comment.
follow
Katabella Roberts is a news writer for The Epoch Times, focusing primarily on US, world and business news.