The United Nations reconfirmed Iran to its seat on the Committee for Programme and Coordination on Wednesday, sparking outrage from member states who believe the country’s record of aggression should disqualify its representatives from the committee’s work to review human rights, women’s rights and counter-terrorism programs.
asserted
record → reconfirm → rights
Ahead of the vote, Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a human rights watchdog, said he believes the move gives Iran another tool for the regime’s propaganda machine.
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move → say → machine
"They use it," Neuer said.
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Neuer → use → it
"You'll see a headline in Iranian propaganda right away: ‘Hey, look, we were elected to yet another body.'
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we → see → body
And it sends a signal…
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it → send → signal
As they're killing their own people, what does the world have to say?"
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world → kill → what
Neuer believes Iran’s continued spot on the committee gives Tehran a nod of international legitimacy amid its ongoing conflict with the U.S., showcasing the UN’s uneven record for creating a forum to deter international violence.
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spot → believe → violence
Sometimes they’re not.
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they → ’re → ?
Sometimes, even when they’re effective, they’re effective in a bad way.
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they → ’re → way
There’s an effect, but it’s to empower dictatorships," Neuer said.
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Neuer → ’ → dictatorships
"The UN spends a lot of its time attacking democracies like America, like Israel.
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UN → spend → Israel
America gets condemned every year for the embargo in Cuba.
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America → condemn → Cuba
And Hamas, Islam and Jihad were never mentioned once.
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Hamas → mention → ?
That happens a lot at the UN."
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That → happen → UN
Iran was reconfirmed with the support of 144 ballots cast by the UN General Assembly.
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Iran → reconfirm → Assembly
The Committee for Programme and Coordination consists of 34 member states, each of which is elected to the body for a three-year term.
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each → consist → term
Although it is not one of the UN’s six main committees, it reviews the organization’s plans and priorities, making recommendations on their design, priorities, coordination and effectiveness.
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it → review → design
Iran’s renewal to the post prompted outcry from lawmakers in the U.S. on Tuesday afternoon.
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renewal → prompt → afternoon
"The United Nations elected Iran — the world’s biggest exporter of terrorism — to the committee responsible for establishing priorities on disarmament, counterterrorism and women’s rights," the House Foreign Affairs Committee wrote in a statement posted to X.
"
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Committee → elect → X.
The United Nations is morally bankrupt: no sane person can take it seriously."
Similarly, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand issued her own statement condemning the move.
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Anand → take → move
"Canada is steadfastly opposed to giving Iran a seat on the UN Committee for Programme and Coordination — and Canada voted against Iran’s inclusion today at the UN.
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Canada → oppose → UN
The committee should be comprised of countries entrusted with shaping the work of the United Nations and must uphold the principles of its Charter.
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committee → comprise → Charter
The Iranian regime silences dissent at home and fuels instability across the Middle East.
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regime → silence → East
We stand with the people of Iran," Anand said.
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Anand → stand → Iran
Notably, Australia also joined the opposition, voting alongside Canada against Iran’s confirmation.
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Australia → join → confirmation
"Australia strongly opposes Iran’s nomination to the UN Committee for Programme and Coordination and voted against.
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Australia → oppose → Programme
Iran’s human rights violations and destabilizing conduct undermine multilateralism," Foreign Minister Penny Wong wrote.
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Wong → undermine → multilateralism
Neuer, director of UN Watch, believes its not just Western countries that will be watching how the UN treats Iran.
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UN → believe → Iran
He noted that aggressors constantly monitor the international field to get a sense for how it might react in the future.
uncertain
it → note → future
"It's like Putin looks when Obama said we 'have a red line in Syria.
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we → look → Syria
Well, Syria used chemical weapons.
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Syria → use → weapons
And Obama... did nothing.
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Obama → do → nothing
That sent a message.
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That → send → message
Shortly thereafter, Putin invaded Ukraine.
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Putin → invade → Ukraine
I'm not saying that invasions are gonna happen the next day, but these things send messages, and constantly governments are taking the temperature.
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governments → say → temperature
What is the pushback?" Neuer said.
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Neuer → say → ?
He also observed that although many in the U.S. view the UN with some skepticism, other countries still use the group as a barometer of international consensus.
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countries → observe → consensus
"The United Nations is considered for many a repository of international legitimacy; it may not be so in the United States… but in many parts of the world it is regarded as the arbiter of international legitimacy," Neuer said.
uncertain
Neuer → consider → legitimacy
"What is the signal you're giving to the Ayatollah regime?
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you → give → regime
They murdered tens of thousands of people.
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They → murder → people
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
