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US announces effort to remove Iran from UN women’s commission in wake of Mahsa Amini protests – JURIST

The Biden administration Wednesday announced that the US is working to remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). US Vice President Kamala Harris stated that Iran is “unfit to serve” on the commission due to the denial of women’s rights and “brutal crackdown” on its own people.Harris said, “The United States believes that no nation that systematically abuses the rights of women and girls should play a role in any international or United Nations body charged with protecting these very same rights.” The CSW is a UN council that aims to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. The council promotes women’s rights, documents women’s experiences throughout the world and shapes global standards regarding women.Harris previously addressed the violent crackdown in Iran back in October. Harris asserted that the US stands with Iranian women and citizens. Harris also maintained then that the US would hold Iranian officials accountable and support the rights of Iranians to freely protest.The protests in Iran began following the death of Mahsa Amini in Iranian custody. On September 13, Amini was arrested in Tehran by Iran’s morality police for wearing an “improper” hijab. Amini’s death in custody sparked nationwide protests in Iran. Iranian authorities responded to the protests with unlawful force, including the use of live ammunition, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds of others. Iran blamed the US, along with other countries, for the political unrest.