In a move that has sent shockwaves through the human rights community, Saudi Arabia has been appointed as the chair of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), igniting a fierce debate over the kingdom’s own record on women’s rights. This development comes at a pivotal moment, as the world prepares to mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing declaration, which set out a comprehensive framework for advancing gender equality globally.
The appointment of Saudi Ambassador to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, as the CSW chair was finalized “by acclamation,” meaning it proceeded unopposed at the CSW’s annual meeting in New York, with no rival candidates and silence from the 45 members when objections were called for. This has stirred controversy given the kingdom’s laws and practices that starkly contrast with the commission’s mandate to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Human rights organizations were swift in their condemnation. Amnesty International’s New York office head, Sherine Tadros, emphasized the critical role of the CSW chair in influencing planning and decisions in a pivotal year and critiqued Saudi Arabia’s glaring disparity between its own practices and the commission’s goals. “Saudi Arabia’s own record on women’s rights is abysmal, and a far cry from the mandate of the commission,” Tadros remarked.
The situation of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia presents significant concerns. For instance, the kingdom’s “personal status” law requires women to obtain a male guardian’s permission to marry, and a wife’s obligation to her husband, as well as her right to financial support, is contingent upon her “obedience.” Furthermore, there are still major restrictions on women’s freedoms that, if breached, could result in the withdrawal of financial support, underscoring the gap between Saudi laws and international standards of gender equality.
The criticisms extend beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia, addressing the broader implications for the international commitment to women’s rights. Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, argued that “a country that jails women simply because they advocate for their rights has no business being the face of the UN’s top forum for women’s rights and gender equality.” He urged Saudi authorities to demonstrate a genuine commitment to women’s rights, specifically by releasing detained women’s rights defenders and ending the male guardianship system.
The election of Saudi Arabia to this prominent position has prompted discussions about the procedures of the CSW and the roles of other member states with stronger records on gender equality who chose to remain silent. This development raises questions about the effectiveness and integrity of global institutions charged with upholding human rights, particularly for women.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office noted that Britain is not a member of the CSW and therefore had no say in the selection process, though it assured continued engagement with Saudi authorities on women’s rights issues.
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