UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) MEETING: PROPOSAL TO REMOVE IRAN FROM THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
14 December 2022
Statement by H.E. The Hon Mitch Fifield, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Australian Mission to the United Nations
Mahsa Amini.
Nika Shahkarami.
Asra Panahi.
Hadis Najafi.
These are just some of the courageous women and girls who have paid with their lives for daring to ask that their human rights be respected. We cannot let them die in vain.
Iran’s brazen onslaught against the human rights of its citizens, and its persecution against women and girls, is without end. From dictating what a woman should wear to how a girl must speak.
Even using sexual violence as a weapon of intimidation against peaceful protesters. Iran’s actions demonstrate it is willing to use every available tool of oppression against its own people.
For 76 years, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women has stood as the preeminent global body dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. A group that exists to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere. Australia strongly supports its mandate, which sets the global standard for advancing the rights of women and girls.
For this reason, it is unacceptable that Iran, a country which flagrantly disregards women’s and girls’ human rights, could continue to serve on the Commission. Iran’s actions are fundamentally incompatible with the Commission’s mandate.
That is why we support the action – recognising its unprecedented nature in the multilateral system – of removing Iran from the Commission. It is necessary to uphold the integrity of this forum that in turn protects the rights of so many.
Widespread calls for change have fallen on deaf ears. Words have failed. The recent actions by Iran demand action by us, the UN’s Member States.