The Hill News

The international community took its strongest action to-date in support of human rights in Iran today, in a major victory for President Obama’s policy of engagement at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC). Yet, this accomplishment did not come without controversy. Only four days before, the Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), launched a withering attack against the international human rights body and announced her intention to introduce legislation that would block the United States from running for reelection at the HRC.

Thanks to its active presence on the HRC, the Obama administration was able to work with Sweden and a broad coalition of cross-regional partners to ensure the Council took action on Iran. This groundwork paid off today as the HRC voted to establish an independent human rights monitor on Iran to address the ongoing human rights crisis.

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