Saudi Arabia has been appointed as the chair of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, a decision unanimously approved by all 45 member states.
Despite being a nation where women are still considered second-class citizens, Saudi Arabia was the sole candidate for the position.
According to The Guardian, there was no formal vote taken; Antonio Manuel Lagdameo, the Philippine UN representative leading the meeting, simply asked if there were any objections from council members. None were raised.
Numerous human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have strongly opposed Saudi Arabia's leadership of the commission, which is tasked with promoting gender equality.
In a statement, Amnesty International emphasized that Saudi Arabia should not be viewed as a champion of women's rights simply because of its new position. The organization called for the repeal of discriminatory laws and the dismantling of guardianship systems, along with an end to the suppression of freedoms and the release of individuals imprisoned for advocating for women's rights.
