Michèle Taylor’s comments come as the Islamic Republic is set to chair the UN Human Rights Council Social Forum this November.

Taylor stated, “As we approach the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s tragic death, let me be clear: The US reasserts that Iran, with its appalling human rights record, has no place in leadership roles within the UN human rights ecosystem. The time for accountability is now.”

The controversy surrounding Iran’s involvement in UN leadership positions has been a contentious issue. In June, the Islamic Republic secured a leadership role as one of the vice-presidents of the UN General Assembly, prompting reactions from several member states and numerous activists.

In May, Iran’s UN ambassador, Ali Bahraini, was appointed to chair the UN Human Rights Council 2023 Social Forum, leading to widespread anger and indignation. The forum is scheduled to take place in Geneva on November 2nd and 3rd.

In response to these appointments, UN Watch, an independent human rights organization, launched a petition to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, urging him to cancel the appointments. Additionally, UN Watch submitted a resolution to the UN aimed at overturning the decision, drawing further attention and scrutiny to Iran’s involvement in UN leadership positions.

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