UN calls on Saudi Arabia to end gender discrimination
UN Dispatch reports that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women has called on Saudi Arabia to "end its system of male guardianship."
The committee's 23 independent experts urged Saudi Arabia to "amend its legislation to confirm that international treaties have precedence over domestic laws," and "enact a comprehensive gender equality law."They also said that Riyadh should "take immediate steps to end the practice of male guardianship over women" and work to eliminate "negative cultural practices and stereotypes" which discriminate against women.
For more information on the the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), click here.
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"Although the body has no legal power to enforce its recommendations, it is regarded as a moral authority on women's rights."
"A report submitted by Riyadh on its compliance with the treaty said that generally there was 'no discrimination against women in the laws of the kingdom.'"
So basically, the UN wagged a finger at a country that insists it's doing nothing wrong. I have a vague premonition not much will come of this.
How do you enforce "moral authority" over cultural/religious practices that are centuries old? The CEDAW needs sharper teeth than that.
It will never have more teeth than that. The UN needs to be rethought and rebooted as no one in power listens to the UN or any of its agents unless it suits their interests.
In this particular case its a non-starter as they won't be able to get the Saudi leadership to see it the committees way.
How do you convince someone that discrimination 1. exists? 2. needs to stop? if they simply dont believe its there or that its a problem.
Thank you so much for posting on this topic.
I will NEVER forget, for as long as I live conservative claims that feminists 'didn't care about women in other countries that's why they opposed the war in Iraq which 'liberated' them. Tell that to the two mentally disabled women who were blown up today along with 90 others. How has the Iraq war liberated them. Or the 16 year old girl who was stoned to death in northern Iraq. Or the minister of womens' issues who was shot to death on her front lawn in Afghanistan. How has Bush's management of his wars helped them?
And every time I see Western feminists speaking out for women in other countries the utter bankruptcy of that oft repeated conservative meme will be remembered.
I think the international community's efforts are having an effect, even in the secluded kingdom of saudi arabia. Check out this
http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/29/a-saudi-women-rights-group/
Although there is some concern of bowing to outside pressures, there are also people within Saudi Arabia who want to see women treated with more respect. And that is hope. Of course, there is a huge, huge way to go, but any improvement is one step to get there.