‘A slap in the face to victims of abuse’: UN urged to reject Saudi Arabia’s bid to join Human Rights Council

Saudi Arabia’s Bid for UN Human Rights Council Membership

Introduction

Saudi Arabia is on the brink of being elected onto the United Nations’ Human Rights Council, according to campaigners. They argue that this move would undermine the country’s ability to demand justice for rights violations and would be a “slap in the face” to the victims of the Saudi regime.

The Saudi Arabian government has tried to present itself as a reformed country that has made progress on gender equality and human rights. However, activists have fiercely criticized its record on both issues.

Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Record

• Saudi border guards have been accused of killing hundreds of Ethiopians as they sought to cross from Yemen in 2022-23, which critics argue may amount to a crime against humanity.
• The country has not yet accounted for the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
• More than 198 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia this year, the highest total since 1990. Amnesty International has described some of these individuals as political protesters.
• The regime has handed down long prison sentences to women, often in secret trials, for advocating for more rights and freedoms.

Saudi Arabia’s Role in International Institutions

To the dismay of human rights groups, Saudi Arabia was chosen in March to chair a UN commission that is supposed to promote gender equality and empower women worldwide.

Upcoming UN General Assembly Decision

The UN General Assembly is scheduled to select 18 new members for three-year terms on the Human Rights Council beginning in January 2025. Human rights groups argue that there is little competition for these places.

Reactions and Calls for Action

Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, stated that a Saudi victory would be a slap in the face to the victims of Saudi abuses. He urged council members to prevent Saudi Arabia and other abusive governments from undermining the council’s work.

Lina al-Hathloul, head of monitoring and advocacy at ALQST, which documents human rights in Saudi Arabia, emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s bid contradicts the requirements of council membership. She called on member states to reject the bid.

The Saudi embassy in London has been contacted for comment.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status
• SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of women facing discrimination or violence
• Number of human rights violations committed by the Saudi regime
• Number of executions in Saudi Arabia
• Number of women imprisoned for advocating for rights and freedoms
• Level of access to justice for victims of rights violations

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theguardian.com