The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) voted on Wednesday to “immediately” expel Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) over the Islamic Republic’s suppression of the September protests, AFP reports.

Mass protests in Iran following the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the morality policePhoto: Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP / Profimedia Images

Ecosoc, which oversees the CSW, voted 29 in favor (16 abstentions and eight against) to expel Tehran from the body for its remaining term of 2026, following a resolution tabled by the United States, which no longer has relations. diplomatic relations with Iran since 1980 – and which for two months was supported by an international petition.

The adopted text “expresses deep concern at the actions of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran since September 2022, which have consistently undermined and increasingly oppressed the human rights of women and girls, including the right to freedom of expression and opinion, often through excessive use of force.”

For these reasons, Ecosoc “decides to immediately withdraw the membership of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Commission on the Status of Women for the remainder of its 2022-2026 mandate,” the UN resolution said.

In an initial reaction, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby welcomed the “important” vote, given how Iran “continues to treat peaceful protesters in its country, primarily the women who initiated these protests.”