Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has added her voice to the call for Iran to be removed from a UN women's rights body.
In an open letter published overnight, female leaders from across the globe called on United Nations Member States to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women.
"In solidarity with Iranian women and girls who are courageously demonstrating for their fundamental human rights, we condemn the brutal violence of security forces against peaceful protesters and echo Iranian women leaders' call for United Nations Member States to immediately remove the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)," it reads.
The letter is signed by a number of prominent female leaders including former first lady Michelle Obama, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, prominent feminist author Gloria Steinem, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Malala Yousafzai and Nadia Murad and former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Jacinda Ardern is the only current head of government listed as a signatory.
The Commission on the Status of Women is described as the principal intergovernmental body dedicated to gender equality and empowerment of women. There are 45 members elected based on geographical distribution. New Zealand is not currently a member - members include Australia and the United States. Earlier this year Iran began a four year term on the Commission.
Nation-wide protests were triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini - a 22 year old who died in custody after being detained for failing to cover her hair.
"Because of the Islamic Republic's appalling record on women's rights, and in light of the regime's ongoing, brutal crackdown on protesters, we insist that Iran's membership to the CSW be revoked. For every day that Iran remains a member of the Commission on the Status of Women, the body loses credibility," the letter states.
New Zealand's response to the Iranian regime had been somewhat tempered until last week as New Zealand diplomats worked to free two kiwi instagram influencers who had been detained in Iran.
Ardern has said the Government is looking at what further action it can take to strongly communicate New Zealand's position.
Read the full open letter here.
