Iran Appoints First Woman as Ambassador Since Islamic Revolution

[niyad]

Iran Appoints First Woman as Ambassador Since Islamic Revolution


The Iranian government has appointed its first woman ambassador since the Islamic revolution in 1979. Marzieh Afkham is appointed to serve her country in Malaysia. She was previously working as the Spokesperson to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was the first woman to ever serve as the spokesperson for the Ministry. Ms. Afkham has been working in the diplomatic service for 30 years in various posts.

Ms. Afkham’s appointment has opened the arena for other women to aspire to such positions. The news about her appointment was well covered by many local as well as a few international mediums. Ms. Afkham has also been a strong supporter of human rights especially women’s rights. According to the state news agency IRNA, she has praised the current Foreign Minister, Jawad Zarif for his “trust in women and for the courage to take such a decision.” IRNA reports that during a tribute to the 50 year old career diplomat, Mr. Zarif said, Ms. Afkham has “carried out her duties for two years with dignity, bravery and particular insight.”

After the current president, considered a moderate, Hassan Rouhani came to Office, he called on ministers to appoint women to key posts and promised that he will fight against discrimination. His predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the hardliner, appointed Marzieh Vahd Dastjerdi as the first female minister to the cabinet in 2009. She was appointed to the health ministry. Ms. Afkham is only the second woman ambassador in the history of Iran. Mehrangiz Dolatshahi was the first ambassador who served in Denmark in 1976. She held the position until the revolution in 1979.

Although women in Iran hold key positions, including the parliament and the cabinet, they cannot run for president, cannot attend male sports events, and has unfriendly laws to women in cases of marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Women in Iran are also not allowed to serve as judges.

http://feminist.org/blog/index.php/2015/11/20/iran-appoints-first-woman-as-ambassador-since-islamic-revolution/

[smirkymonkey]

1. Well, that's a step in the right direction.

[niyad]

2. still a very long way to go. and before I hear from the usual suspects about how great american

women have it, I give them the world economic forum ("global gender gap) report--US is 28th, and getting worse.



World Economic Forum Report Places U.S. 28th
by Feminist Newswire on Nov 19, 2015 • 12:50 PM
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The World Economic Forum just released “The Global Gender Gap” report of 2015 that ranks the United States 28th out of 145 countries. The U.S. is ranked 28th in women vis-à-vis men in economic participation and opportunities; educational attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment. Of the 145 countries, the U.S. ranks 6th in gender gap in economic participation and opportunities, 40th in educational attainment, 64th in health and survival, and a miserable 72nd in political empowerment. Due to the widening wage gap and leadership positions, the think-tank says, the U.S. fell 8 places in 2015 to 28th compared with last year.


via World Economic Forum

According to the World Economic Forum at the current rate of women gaining parity with men to close pay, education, health and political participation gaps will take 118 years. The Forum reports that in the last ten years, “an addition quarter of a billion women” have entered the global workforce. The authors also wrote that women are only now “earning what men did a decade ago.”

The Nordic countries of Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden still lead with the smallest gender gaps. Ireland is the only non-Nordic country that is ranked 5th. Above the U.S. is New Zealand, 10th, Germany 11th, France 15th, and the United Kingdom ranks 18th.

http://feminist.org/blog/index.php/2015/11/19/world-economic-forum-report-places-u-s-28th/

[smirkymonkey]

3. 28th! Wow, that is pretty bad for a wealthy, developed nation like ours.

Ugh!

[niyad]

4. and please note that it has slipped eight spots since last year.

[smirkymonkey]

5. We're going 3rd world.

That's what it looks like. How depressing!

[niyad]

6. I think we are third world--no universal health care, horrible maternal mortality rates, no parental

leave overall, etc., etc.,