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Saudi Arabia will in future chair the UN Commission for the Advancement of Women. The 45 member states of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) appointed Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil by acclamation as chairman of the next session in New York on Wednesday. The mandate lasts one year.
The human rights organization Amnesty International reacted with shock on Thursday. Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy in which the royal family rules with an ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam. It ranks 132nd out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum Foundation (WEF) 2023 report on gender equality.
“This is a shock to us, but not a surprise,” said Natalie Wenger, responsible for Saudi Arabia at Amnesty Switzerland. Saudi Arabia is conducting a large-scale image campaign to present itself as a modern country. “But these are gestures that have no substance whatsoever.”
“I don’t hear any objections. So that’s how it was decided.”
Women’s rights are constantly violated there. Amnesty has just reported in a report the case of a mother of two who stood up for women’s rights on platform X (formerly Twitter) during her dissertation and was therefore sentenced to 27 years in prison. Countries that take on such chairs on UN committees should serve as role models, Wenger said. “That is why we consider this presidency tragic.”
During the committee meeting, the current chairman from the Philippines presented the Saudi ambassador as the only candidate. “May I assume that the Commission intends to elect His Excellency Abdulaziz Alwasil of Saudi Arabia by acclamation as President of the Commission at its 69th session?” he asked the 45 member states. “I don’t hear any objections. So that’s how it has been decided.” The decision was received with short applause.
There was also no objection from the ‘Western Europe and other countries’ group. The group is currently represented there by Austria, Israel, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey. (SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
