Dear Mr. President,
Dear Mr. Secretary-General,
Iran and Saudi Arabia, whose regimes systematically violate basic women's rights, are set to become leading members of the new UN agency devoted to the promotion of women's rights, UN Women.
In Saudi Arabia, courts have repeatedly considered filial "disobedience" as a crime and adult women are denied the right to live their own lives and marry of their free will. All Saudi women, regardless of their age, are required to have a male guardian. Women cannot vote or be elected to high political positions.
In Iran, women still face execution by stoning for adultery. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother, was convicted under Islamic Sharia law for having had an "illicit relationship" with other men, although it was alleged to have occurred after the death of her husband. Her execution is imminent.
Electing countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia to the board of UN Women is like setting a fox to keep the geese. It would make a mockery of the United Nations!
I urge you strongly to do everything you can to prevent these two countries from becoming a member of Board of UN Women.
Yours sincerely,
The United Nations Economic and Social Council has rejected Iran's candidacy for the new UN agency promoting women's rights, following massive protests by Western countries and human rights organizations, including the World Jewish Congress. However, the council elected Saudi Arabia as one of the new Executive members of UN Women. read more »
The Iranian government still plans to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a widow and mother of two whose stoning sentence on adultery charges provoked a significant international outcry this summer. This development reaffirms concerns about Iran joining the governing body of the new UN women's agency, UN Women. Iran is expected to be elected to the body without contest on Wednesday. read more »
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for allegedly having committed adultery, escaped her execution on Wednesday after strong international protests. read more »
I strongly oppose those countries that do not respect women right to be included in the new UN Women's right Agency. Unless they stop violenting their rights and that the world are quite satisfy with their women's right record.If not, they may forget it forever.Women are our mothers and they deserve our 100% respect .
It might be a good idea to have countries whose views on womens rights are above the world median.
The inclusion of Iran and Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Women would demonstrate an approval and complicity with their appalling human rights violations particular against women. It would be disgusting if such a travesty should be permitted.
I am not a Jew. I am an Atheist. I am here to voice my support for half of mankind. Being a boy, it gives me utter shame to realise that my other half is not given proper treatment in countries like Iran, S Arabia and other Islamic states. Men in power in those states are a scourge on masculinity. But this comment doesn't mean that I support Israel's political policies.
Woman is also God's Creation who demand a fair and equal treatment as a man.