Saudi Arabia’s Potential UN Human Rights Council Election Sparks Outrage Among Activists
Critics Warn That Saudi Arabia's Membership Would Undermine Human Rights Accountability Amid Ongoing Abuses
Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
Saudi Arabia is poised to be elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council, raising alarm among campaigners who argue that such a move would severely undermine the council’s credibility. Critics, including human rights activists, warn that this would be a “slap in the face” to the many victims of the Saudi regime’s human rights abuses.
Despite the Saudi government’s attempts to project an image of reform—touting progress on gender equality and human rights—its record remains under intense scrutiny. Human rights organizations have pointed to recent accusations that Saudi border guards killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants trying to cross from Yemen between 2022 and 2023. This incident is being described by some as a potential crime against humanity. Moreover, the kingdom has not yet been held accountable for the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
This year, Saudi Arabia has carried out over 198 executions—the highest figure since 1990. Amnesty International has identified many of those executed as political protesters. Additionally, the regime continues to target women’s rights activists, sentencing them to long prison terms after secret trials. Among them is 30-year-old Manahel al-Otaibi, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for advocating on social media for the abolition of male guardianship laws, which require women to obtain a male relative’s permission to marry or travel.
Saudi Arabia’s recent appointment to chair a UN commission on gender equality and women’s empowerment has also been met with widespread criticism. Human rights groups have expressed dismay over this appointment, given the kingdom’s ongoing repression of women activists.
On Wednesday, the UN General Assembly is scheduled to vote on 18 new members for three-year terms on the Human Rights Council, with Saudi Arabia vying for a seat. Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, commented that electing Saudi Arabia would be an insult to the victims of Saudi abuses, including Ethiopian migrants, victims of war crimes in Yemen, and Khashoggi’s family. He urged council members to work to prevent such governments from undermining the council’s mission to expose and address human rights violations globally.
The Saudi embassy in London has yet to respond to these concerns.
