BREAKING NEWS

Iran, Russia, Vatican threaten to derail UN women's rights

UNITED NATIONS - An "unholy alliance" of Iran, Russia, the Vatican and others is threatening to derail a UN declaration urging an end to violence against women and girls by objecting to language on sexual, reproductive and gay rights, some UN diplomats said Wednesday.
Delegates to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women are racing to reach a consensus deal on a final document by Friday and some diplomats say the future of the commission - a global policy-making body created in 1946 for the advancement of women - is at risk if they fail to broker a compromise.
"There's this sort of unholy alliance ... coming together to oppose language on sexual health, reproductive rights and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights," one senior UN diplomat said. "It's tough going, but progress is being made."