The United States Secretary, Antony Blinken has said that the votes by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to remove Iran from UN’s Commission on the Status of Women send unmistakable message of support from around the world to the brave people of Iran.
In his statement while reacting to the votes which received 29 in favour and eight against, with 16 countries abstaining on Wednesday, said this resolution is in support particularly to Iranian women and girls, who remain undaunted despite brutality and violence perpetrated against them by the Iranian regime.
According to him, “The protests across Iran, triggered by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the so called “morality police,” reveal an Iranian population craving the universal human rights to which every person worldwide is entitled.
“In response to these demonstrations, the regime has unsuccessfully attempted to suppress Iranian voices by killing hundreds of peaceful protestors, including dozens of children, and arbitrarily detaining thousands”, he said.
Adding that, Iranian courts have issued harsh sentences to protestors, including the death penalty, following sham trials while reiterated United States unwavering support for the people of Iran.
“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 makes a mockery of”, Secretary of State said.
Meanwhile, 54-member UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Wednesday adopted a resolution to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for the remainder of its four-year term ending in 2026.
This development comes in the wake of the Iranian authorities brutal crackdown on protests calling for justice for Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old woman who died in police custody in September.
The United States introduced the resolution, which received 29 votes in favour and eight against, with 16 countries abstaining.
As the document expressed serious concern over Iranian Government’s actions since September 2022 “to continuously undermine, increasingly suppress the human rights of women and girls”, and “often with the use of excessive force”.
Speaking ahead of the vote, the United States Ambassador to United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield called the CSW the premiere UN body for promoting gender equality and empowering women.
“It cannot do its important work if it is being undermined from within. Iran’s membership at this moment is an ugly stain on the Commission’s credibility”, Thomas-Greenfield said.