Iran: A Punchline for Women's Rights

The United Nations elected Iran earlier in 2010 to a four-year term on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).  The Commission, said to be "dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women" has become a punch-line for policies regarding women's rights.

The U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is intended to be a central forum for international agendas that promote higher standards of living, and encourages respect for human rights and freedom around the globe.  However, Iran has a notorious reputation for oppressing women, as it is not uncommon for women to be buried up to their waist and stoned to death for crimes as miniscule as adultery.  

In Iran, women seeking equality have been charged with threatening national security.  Women are banned from certain areas of study in Universities, as the regime attempts to eradicate decades of progress and strife.  Private rights such as clothing, marital status, custody, inheritance, abortion and transportation are legal battles for women in Iran every day. 

The most recent U.N. assembly at the N.Y. headquarters practically did nothing to promote the goals that were bestowed upon the CSW when it was established in 1946, other than blame Israel for violating Palestinian women's rights.

Iran's election to this 'illustrious' position is indicative of the complete disregard for women's rights, and the misappropriation of priorities.  It's also a foreboding realization that the Islamic authority of the U.N. is overshadowing the very purpose of its establishment in an attempt to push their own agendas.