Iran appointed to UN Commission on the Status of Women
The Washington Times reports:
Iran won seats on five subcommittees of the U.N. Economic and Social Council earlier this week, including one to the Commission on the Status of Women — a body tasked with pressing for women’s rights around the world.
The Government of Iran has an appalling record when it comes to women’s rights. A few of their achievements:
- female government workers forced to observe Islamic dress code
- women barred from becoming judges until recently
- beaches and sports are sex-segregated
- legal age of marriage for girls was reduced to 9 (later raised to 13)
- exposure of any part of the body other than hands and face – is subject to punishment of up to 70 lashes or 60 days imprisonment
- a law proposed by the last government would ban unmarried women under the age of 40 leave the country without the permission of their fathers or brothers