November 01, 2022
Prime Minister suspends talks with Iran
New Zealand is suspending its bilateral human rights dialogue with Iran in the wake of the violent crackdown by authorities against protests over the death in September of young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini after her detention by religious police.
Prime Minister Jacinda Adern says New Zealand hasn’t seen any progress as a result of that dialogue, and in fact the rights of women and girls seem to be going backwards.
“Secondly we are calling for Iran to be removed from the UN Commission on the Status of Women, because can we argue for a member state that has taken such a counter position on the rights of women and girls? It is unsustainable and in our minds untenable.” she says.
Prime Minister Ardern says the two measures against Iran will be implemented immediately.
“Firstly, an end indefinitely to the dialogue between New Zealand and Iran on human rights to send a clear message that not only have we not seen progress as a result of that dialogue but we have seen a retreat a regression in the rights of women and girls.” said the Prime Minister.
“Secondly we are calling for Iran to be removed from the UN commission on the status of women. How can we argue for a member state that has taken such a counter position on the rights of women and girls it is unsustainable and in our minds untenable.” the Prime Minister said.