The New York Times reports:
The United States orchestrated the defeat of Iran’s push to gain a seat Wednesday on the board of the new United Nations organization dedicated to gender equality around the world, in keeping with the broader American strategy to isolate Iran.
The United States organized a global diplomatic effort to block Iran from the board, with its ambassadors approaching dozens of foreign ministries to argue that the Islamic republic’s human rights record would send the wrong message about the new body.
The American ambassador, Susan E. Rice, not known for glad-handing around the United Nations, was working the room before the vote, shaking hands.
“We’ve made no secret of our concern that Iran joining the board of UN Women would have been an inauspicious start to that board,” Ms. Rice told reporters afterward, using the common name for the new organization.
“They lost, and they lost handily,” she added. “The slate that was selected, including the late candidacy of Timor-Leste, is one that is largely comprised of countries that are committed to women’s rights and have a good record of support of women’s rights and human rights.”
Encouraged by the United States and several human rights organizations, Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, stepped forward a week ago to contest what had been an uncontested slate of 10 countries, one for each Asian seat on the board.
Update: Unfortunately, as I should have noted, the inclusion of Saudi Arabia on the panel is a defeat for women’s rights.
