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Iran has been ousted from a United Nations (UN) women's body following the mass protests over the death of a woman in custody.
Reuters reported that the 54-member UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) favored a motion by the US to ‘remove with immediate effect the Islamic Republic of Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women for the remainder of its 2022-2026 term’.
Twenty-nine member countries voted in favour of the proposal, with eight against - including Russia and China.
There were also 16 abstentions.
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According to The Guardian, the commission said the Islamic Republic membership leaves an ‘ugly stain’ on the group’s credibility.
Today’s vote to remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women is a victory for those protesting in Iran and all of those who stand with them. The unmistakable message is this: the world is listening and taking action. The women and girls of Iran will be heard.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) December 14, 2022
US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said removing Iran was necessary as the commission focuses on empowering and fighting for women’s rights.
"It's hugely important for the women of Iran," Thomas-Greenfield told Reuters after the vote.
She continued: "They got a strong message from the United Nations that we will support them and we will condemn Iran and we will not let them sit on the Commission for the Status of Women and continue to attack women in their own country.”
However, Iran’s UN representative, Amir Saeid Iravani, condemned the decision and accused the US of acting like a bully, as per the outlet.
Additionally, the UN launched a human rights investigation late last month after mass protests began amid the government’s harsh crackdown.
According to a press release, UN human rights chief, Volker Türk said: “It pains me to see what is happening in the country.
“The images of children killed. Of women beaten in the streets. Of people sentenced to death.”
Iranians are continuing to rally for women’s rights, sparked by the death of Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who was arrested and allegedly beaten by the 'morality police' over her headscarf in September.
While the government and police maintain the 22-year-old had underlying health conditions, protesters and activists believe Amini was killed by officials, as per The Guardian.
Masha’s father, Amjad Amini, also rejected claims that his daughter died of a heart attack.
“They’re lying. They’re telling lies. Everything is a lie.. no matter how much I begged, they wouldn’t let me see my daughter,” he told BBC Persia, according to CNN News.
While viewing his daughter’s body before her funeral, her entire body was wrapped except for her face and feet.
He said: “I have no idea what they did to her.”
