Overview

• Saudi Arabia has been elected unopposed as the chair of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, sparking widespread condemnation from human rights groups.
• Human rights organizations criticize Saudi Arabia's 'abysmal' record on women's rights, highlighting the country's restrictions on women's freedom and rights.
• Despite recent reforms, critics argue that Saudi Arabia's laws continue to discriminate against women in areas such as marriage, divorce, child custody, and freedom of movement.
• The election of Saudi Arabia to chair the UN forum on women's rights is seen as a controversial move that contradicts the commission's mandate to promote gender equality and empower women.
• Human rights groups call for immediate action from Saudi Arabia to release detained women's rights defenders, end male guardianship, and ensure full equality for women.