Hillary Clinton urges countries to boot Iran from UN women's commission

Former US secretary of state tells Tehran to 'listen to your people'

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  Ms Clinton speaks, flanked by Iranian artists and human rights attorneys and activists. AP

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  Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton arrives to speak at the opening of the Eyes on Iran art exhibition at Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park in New York. Getty Images / AFP

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  The exhibition includes numerous installations in support of the Woman, Life, Freedom campaign against violence in Iran. Getty Images / AFP

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  A piece of art written in Farsi is part of the exhibition. AP

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  A large eye adorns steps as part of the exhibition. AP

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  Musician Jon Batiste performs at a press preview of the exhibition. AP

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  The large eye behind Ms Clinton, as well as other works of art, speaks to the current protests happening in Iran. AP

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  Batiste performs during the press preview at Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park. AP

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  Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park is located on an island in the East River. AP

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton called on countries on Monday to “match the courage” of Iranian citizens and remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

“A country that systematically abuses the rights of women and girls has no place participating on a commission whose purpose is to protect those rights,” Ms Clinton said.

Every day that Iran remains a member of that commission, she continued, that body and the UN lose credibility.

Speaking in New York at a press preview of an art installation entitled Eyes on Iran, developed in support of the ongoing women’s rights protest movement in the country, Ms Clinton took the Iranian regime to task.

“I'm saying to the people who control Iran, who have suppressed freedom, not for religion and ideology as they claim but for the sheer raw exercise of power: listen to your people.”

She also criticized those who are working to roll back hard-earned rights around the world.

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  Iranians protest in Tehran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police in September. AP Photo

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  Protests have intensified despite a vicious government crackdown that has left as many as 200 people dead, although estimates of the toll by rights groups vary. AP Photo

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  At least eight members of the security forces have also been killed or wounded during the unrest and there are signs that violent resistance could be intensifying. AP Photo

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  A fire burns at the office of the governor of Mahabad, in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. AFP

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  Protesters gather in the a courtyard of Chitgar complex in western Tehran. AFP

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  Iranian protesters continue to defy a deadly crackdown by security forces. AFP

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  A woman cuts her hair at the grave site of Nika Shahkarami in the city of Khorramabad, during a reported memorial held to mark 40 days since the death of the 16-year-old. AFP

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  A woman not wearing a headscarf stands on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Saqez, Mahsa Amini's home town, to mark 40 days since her death in police custody. AFP

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  Iranian riot police prepare to confront protesters the capital, Tehran. AFP

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  Iranian protesters surge forward amid clashes with riot police in Tehran. AFP

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  A crowd blocks an intersection during a protest to mark 40 days since Amini's death in custody. AP Photo

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  Iranian police arrive to disperse a protest in Tehran. AP Photo

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  Protesters chant at a vigil for Amini at the Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology in Tehran. Reuters

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  Students at Sharif University of Technology attend a protest. AP Photo

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  Police outside Sharif University during a student protest. AP Photo

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  Students at the university protest over the death of Amini, who was in 'morality police' custody for allegedly breaking strict rules on head coverings for women. AP Photo

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  The students' banner says: 'No to mandatory hijab'. AP Photo

“Think of the women in Afghanistan deprived of education, the women in Ukraine defending their country against the barbarity of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's invasion, the women here in the United States fighting for our bodily autonomy,” she said, referencing a US Supreme Court decision earlier this year ending the right to abortion.

“We all struggle and we all have a right to be free and equal. Yet we know this is not easy.”

The former Democratic presidential candidate was joined by human rights lawyer and director of the Strategic Litigation Project at the Atlantic Council Gissou Nia, who said that more than 18,000 protesters in Iran have been jailed so far, with some subjected to custodial torture and others sentenced to execution.

US Vice President Kamala Harris announced on November 2 that Washington would work to remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

The US circulated on Monday a draft resolution that will be put to a vote on December 14 at the 54 member UN's Economic and Social Council.

The resolution denounces Iran's policies as "flagrantly contrary to the human rights of women and girls and to the mandate of the Commission on the Status of Women," and would remove Iran with "immediate effect from the commission for the remainder its 2022-2026 term", a UN diplomat told The National.

It will need a simple majority to pass.

The UN commission and its members are charged with promoting women’s rights and addressing “urgent problems requiring immediate attention in the field of women’s rights”.

Also attending the event was prominent local Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat, whose work has been shaped by the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Ms Neshat accused the Iranian regime of keeping its people hostage and creating an “atmosphere of terror, subjecting us to live under a constant state of fear for over 43 years”.

The UN Human Rights Council on Thursday voted to begin an investigation into Iran's deadly crackdown on protests.

Volker Turk, the UN human rights commissioner, had earlier demanded that Iran end its “disproportionate” use of force in quashing protests that erupted after the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on September 16.

Tehran on Monday rejected the newly appointed independent investigation into the suppression of anti-government protests, and Iran's foreign ministry spokesman stressed the country will not co-operate with the political committee formed by the UN Human Rights Council.

The unrest has posed one of the boldest challenges to Iran's ruling clerical elite since it came to power in the 1979, though authorities have crushed previous rounds of major protests.

Iran has blamed foreign foes and their agents for the unrest.

Iran protests at World Cup — in pictures

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  Security staff speak with fans holding up a shirt with the name of Mahsa Amini, and a flag advocating for women's rights, during the World Cup match between Wales and Iran in Doha, Qatar. Getty Images

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  A security officer, right, interacts with an Iran supporter who displayed a shirt that read 'Mahsa Amini 22', in memory of the Iranian woman who died while in police custody in Iran. AP

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  People have continued demonstrating in Iran and around the world over the death of Amini in September. AP

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  A supporter of Iran's football team, with make-up resembling bloody tears, holds a football jersey with Amini's name, at the stadium in Doha. AFP

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  Division over Iran’s protests cast a shadow over Iran’s second match at the World Cup. AFP

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  Security staff speak with Iran fans. Some fans were stopped by stadium security from bringing in Persian pre-revolutionary flags to the match against Wales. Getty Images

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  Fans before the match. Getty Images

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  Many in the stands came adorned with clothing emblazoned with the "Women, Life, Freedom" slogan. Getty Images