Iran failed Tuesday in its efforts to become a member of the executive board of UN Women, a newly-established United Nations organization, dpa reported.
Iran was one of 11 countries vying for Asia's 10 seats on the board, but received only 19 votes. The ten Asian countries elected won each 52 or 53 votes.
The board is comprised of 10 African countries, five Western European countries, 10 Asian countries, four from Eastern Europe, six from Latin America and the Caribbean, five from Western Europe and six countries that have been core donors to UN programmes.
Iran's candidacy had been challenged by human rights advocates. Iranian human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said Tuesday it would be "a joke" if Iran were elected to the panel.
"How can a country that handles women as second-class citizens and discriminates against them ... speak for the rights of women?" she asked at a press conference.