White House welcomes Iran's 'historic' removal from women's rights body

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The White House welcomed a "historic" vote Wednesday to remove Iran from a UN women's rights body, calling it "another sign of the growing international consensus on Iran and demands for accountability."

"The United States is working with our allies and partners around the world to hold Iran accountable for the abuses it is committing against its own people, notably peaceful protesters, women and girls, and the violence it is enabling against the Ukrainian people," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.

"The recent horrifying executions in Tehran only strengthen our resolve to expand this growing consensus and pursue all possible mechanisms of accountability against the Iranian regime and its officials responsible for these atrocities," he added.

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) voted on a US-drafted resolution to “remove with immediate effect” Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for the remainder of its 2022 - 2026 term.

More than half of all member states, 29, voted in favor of the resolution. Eight voted against it, including Russia and China. Sixteen abstained in the 54-member ECOSOC.

The 45-member UN Commission on the Status of Women is dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the resolution answers appeals from Iranian women and civil society. Iranian Amb. Amir Saeed Iravani called the expulsion an “illegal move” and accused the US of “trying to use the UN to advance its political agenda.”

Iran has carried out two executions, which have been widely condemned by the international community and rights experts, during ongoing nationwide protests sparked by the September death of Mahsa Amini. Amini died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating Iran's Islamic dress code.

Foreign-based NGOs have put the number of those killed in the demonstrations at more than 450, with the US and EU imposing a slew of human rights-related sanctions on officials and entities.