Iran Fails in Bid to Join UN Womens' Rights Group

Lobbying by the U.S., Canada, and Australia successfully blocked Tehran’s attempt to serve on UN Women’s board.

Remember when Canada failed to gain a seat on the UN Security Council? Now Iran knows how it feels. Until yesterday the country was considered a lock to join the newly formed organization UN Women, but critics feared its inclusion would discredit the group. Iran has drawn intense criticism for its treatment of women, particularly the sentencing of convicted adulteress Sakineh Ashtiani to death by stoning. In Iranian courts, the testimony of a woman is worth half that of a man. Canada, the U.S. and Australia successfully convinced East Timor to campaign for a spot only yesterday, and the tiny country has taken Iran’s place. Saudi Arabia, which denies women the right to drive, also successfully won a seat.