UN Expels Iran from Women’s Rights Body

Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA [via Reuters]

The Facts

  • Following a US resolution last month, Iran was removed from the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) on Wednesday due to its alleged “systematic oppression” of women and its violent crackdown on street protests in response to the death of Mahsa Amini. She died in September while in police custody for "improperly" wearing a hijab.

  • Of the 53 members of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), 29 voted to expel Iran from the UNCSW, with eight countries voting against and 16 abstaining.


The Spin

Anti-Iran narrative

Removing Iran from the UNCSW is the bare minimum the international community can do to show solidarity with the brave protesters in Iran. As the regime in Tehran butchers demonstrators in the streets, the US has sent a clear message that this repression will not stand. The US still must do more to support young Iranians in their struggle with this tyrannical regime.

Pro-Iran narrative

Yet again, the West demonstrates its double standards regarding Iran and its contempt for cultures different than its own. The decision to remove Iran from the UNCSW was nothing more than a political stunt to fan the flames of sedition within Iran. The US has supported so much violence against the Islamic Republic since its inception in 1979, even providing Iraq with chemical weapons, so this time is no different.

Nerd narrative

There's a 50% chance that Iran will cease to be an Islamic Republic by October 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.



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