Saudi Arabia was selected to chair the UN committee tasked with advancing gender parity and women’s empowerment globally, following an unchallenged candidacy denounced by human rights organizations for the kingdom’s “abysmal” record on women’s rights. At the annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York on Wednesday, there was no opposition and no competitor for the position of chair, thus Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Saudi ambassador to the UN, was chosen by “acclamation.”
Saudi Arabia’s track record on women’s rights
The states in the Asia-Pacific region who were members of the commission supported Al Wasil. There was stillness in the room when the 45 members were asked if they had any complaints by the departing chair, Antonio Manuel Lagdameo, the Filipino representative to the United Nations. Normally, a nation occupies the chair for two years, but other Asian nations placed pressure on the Philippines to split the tenure and hand the position over to another nation after a year. Although Bangladesh was supposed to take over, Saudi Arabia intervened late in the process and pushed for the position, perhaps in an effort to improve the kingdom’s reputation. Human rights organizations rapidly brought out the irony of the CSW being headed by a nation where, even when it comes to paper, there is such a stark disparity between the rights of men and women.
Mission of the UN women’s forum
Saudi Arabia would be hosting the Beijing Declaration’s 30th anniversary celebration next year, which marks a significant milestone in the worldwide advancement of women’s rights. In a crucial year for the commission, Tadros stated, “whoever is in the chair, which is currently Saudi Arabia, is in a key position to influence the planning, the decisions, the taking stock, and looking ahead.”
“Saudi Arabia is leading now, but the country’s record on women’s rights is appalling and far from what the commission recommended.” Requests for response from the Saudi representation to the UN were not answered, but Saudi authorities have cited a 2022 “personal status” legislation as proof of advancements for women’s rights. Nonetheless, the law mandates that before being married, a woman must get consent from a male guardian. Legally, a woman must submit to her husband in a “reasonable manner,” and the wife’s “obedience” is what her husband receives as payment.
Criticisms and controversies
According to the legislation, refusing to travel with her spouse, dwell in the marital residence, or have sex with him can also be used as justification for stopping financial assistance. A leaked draft of a proposed new penal code, according to Amnesty International, “fails to protect women and girls from all forms of gender-based violence.” Human Rights Watch (HRW) UN director Louis Charbonneau declared, “Saudi Arabia’s election as chair of the UN Commission on the Status of Women shows shocking disregard for women’s rights everywhere.”
“It is inappropriate for a nation that imprisons women merely for standing up for their rights to lead the UN’s principal platform on gender equality and women’s rights. In order to show that this accolade was not wholly unjustified, Saudi authorities ought to free all activists for women’s rights who are in custody, abolish male guardianship, and guarantee women’s equality with men.
Saudi Arabia’s influence within the UN system
According to Charbonneau, HRW made an effort to influence other nations among the 45 CSW members at present, including nations like the Netherlands, Japan, Portugal, and Switzerland that have far superior records on women’s rights. “It wouldn’t happen if they all raised a big enough stink,” he said. But they’re all simply silent. It seems absurd to me that nobody wants to call a vote even if it is an option. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office emphasized that as the UK was not a member of the CSW, it had no say in the chair’s appointment. “We continue to engage closely with the Saudi authorities on women’s rights issues,” the statement continued.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The past few years have witnessed a broad assault on women’s rights, from the lynching, kidnapping, and gang rape of women and girls in Haiti to the stoning of women to death in Afghanistan, to the harsh circumstances faced by Palestinian women who give birth without access to anesthetic or necessary medical care in Florida, where new abortion laws severely restrict women’s autonomy over their own bodies. These events serve as stark reminders of the ongoing global struggle for women’s rights.