The United Nations is facing sharp criticism after Iran was appointed vice chair of the U.N. Commission for Social Development, a body whose mandate includes promoting democracy, women's rights, and social inclusion.
The move drew immediate pushback from U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, who wrote, "Yet another reason why we are not a member of, nor do we participate in, this ridiculous 'Commission for Social Development.'"
The Geneva-based watchdog U.N. Watch noted that Iran was elected to the leadership post without objection from other member states, despite Tehran's widely criticized human rights record.
"Western democracies failed to take action to block Iran's election. By contrast, in recent years, they did make sure to stop Russia from getting elected to similar UN ECOSOC Commissions. They should have done the same against the Islamic Regime," UN Watch said.
U.N. Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer said the appointment undermines the credibility of the world body.
"By electing Iran to help lead a commission devoted to democracy, women's rights and non-violence, the U.N. makes itself into a mockery. This is a regime that brutalizes women for not covering their hair, and that just massacred tens of thousands of its own civilians in two days," Neuer said, Breitbart reported.
Iran's appointment comes days after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was removed from the speakers list for a Feb. 23 meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council following public pressure, including a petition drive organized by UN Watch that gathered more than 100,000 signatures.
The controversy marks the second Iran-related dispute at the United Nations this week.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reportedly sent a letter congratulating Iran on the 47th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution, drawing further criticism from opponents of the regime.
The Commission for Social Development was established in 1946 and took its current name in 1966.
Its stated purpose is to "provide advice to the U.N. on social development issues" and promote policies that "support the overall development goals of the UN, particularly in relation to eradicating poverty, advancing social integration, and ensuring full employment and decent work for everyone."
Human rights groups say Iran's recent crackdown on protests has resulted in thousands of deaths, and they point to the continued imprisonment of women's rights activists, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.
Iran's last major nationwide uprising erupted in 2022 after Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman, died in custody after her arrest by the country's "morality police" for allegedly violating Iran's mandatory headscarf rules.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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