Women
AFP: The United States on Friday steered clear of taking a tough stand on reports that Iran's electoral watchdog appears to have barred women from running in the June 14 presidential elections.
US takes no stand as women barred from Iran vote
Iranian cleric: Women can't be president in Iran
AP: A member of Iran's constitutional watchdog says women cannot be presidential candidates, effectively killing the longshot bids by about 30 women seeking to run in the June 14 election.
Muslim states agree to 'historic' UN statement on women
AFP: Iran, the Vatican and Russia and other Muslim states had formed what some diplomats had called "an unholy alliance" to weaken a statement calling for tough global standards on violence against women and girls.
Iran, Russia, Vatican threaten to derail U.N. women's rights appeal
Reuters: An "unholy alliance" of Iran, Russia, the Vatican and others is threatening to derail a U.N. declaration urging an end to violence against women and girls by objecting to language on sexual, reproductive and gay rights, some U.N. diplomats said Wednesday.
Vatican, Iran resist UN effort fighting violence on women
AFP: The Vatican, Iran and other religious states are resisting efforts by a UN conference, which started Monday, to demand tougher global standards to prevent violence against women and children.