The United States and Canada on Wednesday welcomed the cancellation by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) of Iran’s membership on a committee on women’s rights in retaliation for months of social protests in the country over worsening women’s rights.
US State Department Secretary Antony Blinken has assured that the «removal of Iran» from the UN body «sends an unequivocal message of support from around the world to the brave people of Iran, and in particular to Iranian women and girls, who remain undaunted despite the brutality and violence perpetrated against them by the Iranian regime.»
«The protests across Iran, sparked by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the so-called ‘morality police,’ reveal an Iranian population that yearns for the universal Human Rights to which every person around the world is entitled,» Blinken asserted.
The Secretary of State added that «the (Iranian) regime has tried unsuccessfully to suppress Iranian voices by holding hundreds of peaceful demonstrators, including dozens of children, and arbitrarily detaining thousands», before criticizing the executions of demonstrators «after sham trials».
«The United States is proud to have worked with Ecosoc partners to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women, a body whose values and mission the regime mocks,» Blinken said, according to a statement from his office.
For her part, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said Ottawa will not allow the Iranian authorities to undermine women’s rights.
«To the Iranian people: the regime is not listening, but we are. With our partners, we voted to remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women,» Joly said via her Twitter social network profile.
«Canada will hold the regime accountable. We will not allow it to undermine women’s rights,» Canada’s chief diplomat added.
The Ecosoc approved Wednesday to cancel Iran’s membership in retaliation for the crackdown on protests, according to a decision presented by the U.S. delegation.
«My delegation categorically rejects the resolution adopted today. It is based on fictitious allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran,» the Iranian representative explained, adding that the decision undermines the principles of the UN Charter.
To date, the Iranian authorities have executed two people convicted for their role in the demonstrations, sparking criticism from the international community, which has called on Tehran to commute these sentences and put an end to the repression of the demonstrations.
