Réalité-EU

On the eve of International Women’s Day, and just days after the suspension of Libya from the UN Human Rights Council, Iran has officially become a member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Although Iranian women are subjected to blatant discrimination and oppression, the Islamic Republic will now help set UN policies on the advancement of women.

At the same time, Iranian opposition activists have urged supporters to take to the streets again today, International Women's Day, to demand gender equality and to protest the arrest of opposition leaders Mir Houssein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi and their wives.

Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi has said in a statement: “March 8th 2011 is a special day. On this day, besides the equal rights of women, the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people will also be demanded. We, as women though, should be vigilant, ensuring that in the midst of political upheaval and political developments, we do not forget about our long time demand for equal rights".