The United Nations has appointed Saudi Arabia to chair the Commission on the Status of Women, prompting criticism from human rights organizations due to the kingdom’s poor record on women’s rights, Deutsche Welle reports.
Saudi Arabia’s bid for the position went unopposed, leading to Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil being chosen to lead the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). This decision has been criticized by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, who argue that Saudi Arabia’s history of gender inequality and repression of women’s rights activists contradicts the principles of the commission.
Despite some reforms, such as granting women the right to drive, Saudi women still face significant restrictions, including requiring male guardians’ permission to marry and obeying husbands under penalty of losing financial support. Women advocating for their rights face persecution, including imprisonment and travel bans.
