H.E. Mr. Csaba Kőrösi
President of the General Assembly
United Nations
Dear Mr. President,
We are a group of former foreign ministers who just met in Prague for urgent consultations on threats to human freedom globally. We agreed that among the most pressing challenges is the Iranian regime’s systematic oppression of women and its brutal crackdown on peaceful protestors who are raising their voices for women’s rights. This week, the United Nations has an opportunity to stand in solidarity with Iranian women while upholding its founding principles. We therefore appeal to UN member states to vote YES on the resolution being considered at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to immediately remove the Islamic Republic of Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women.
As the world’s principal intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment, the Commission plays a vital role in advancing global security, prosperity and freedom. With women’s rights under assault around the world, including in Afghanistan, the Commission has never been more important. But it risks being fatally undermined by the presence of a repressive regime that is fundamentally opposed to the Commission’s mission. A broad coalition of Iranian women and citizens, backed by civil society organizations, have led the campaign for Iran’s removal from the Commission. If you could please share this letter and our concerns with all member states today ahead of tomorrow’s vote at ECOSOC, it would be much appreciated. We urge you and the member states to heed their calls for action by standing firmly on the side of human rights when the votes are cast.
Maria Eugenia Brizuela de Avila
El Salvador
Lloyd Axworthy
Canada
Mohamed Benaissa
Morocco
Hillary Rodham Clinton
United States
Erik Derycke
Belgium
Alexander Downer
Australia
Joschka Fischer
Germany
Jaime Gama
Portugal
Marina Kaljurand
Estonia
Kyung-wha Kang
South Korea
Tzipi Livni
Israel
Susana Malcorra
Argentina
Donald McKinnon
New Zealand
Federica Mogherini
Italy
Claudia Ruiz Massieu
Mexico
Ana Palacio
Spain
Lydie Polfer
Luxembourg
Malcolm Rifkind
United Kingdom
Jozias van Aartsen
Netherlands
Knut Vollebaek
Norway
Margot Wallström
Sweden
