Saudi Arabia Pegged As The Leader for the United Nations Women's Rights Forum But Sadly No Women Will Be Able to Drive There

FAYEZ NURELDINE. Getty Images.

Saudi Arabia has been chosen as the chair of the UN commission that is supposed to promote gender equality and empower women around the world, after an unopposed bid for leadership condemned by human rights groups because of the kingdom’s “abysmal” record on women’s rights.

Most of the time over the last decade, we've gotten used to absolutely crazy things happening every single news cycle. It seems like every day we have stories that would blow your mind if you heard about them 15 years ago. The current President's son is being investigated because of a laptop and possible money from Ukraine which has been at war with Russia who tried to annex their land so America has sent billions to help Ukraine in a proxy war. We have the former President being charged and tried for dozens of possible crimes while he is running for office again with limited funds because he owes 190 million for being found liable for sexual assault. Not Good!

Roe was also overturned and PornHub is being restricted in several states and no one really seems to care for longer than 5 days. BUT, we do have Miss Peaches so things arent all bad.  

We have our own shit. No doubt about it but at least we ain't them. 

That being said, the UN making this decision is nuts. Just nuts. 

Some people are pointing to the fact that things are getting "better" for Saudi women. After all, they can DRIVE… with limits… starting in 2018. Progress! But, they need to have an adult male's permission. That permission can come from their husband, dad, or brother but at least it's not totally banned now!

Saudi Arabia also still enforces a strict dress code for women in public. Women are required to wear an abaya (a loose-fitting, full-length robe) and cover their hair with a hijab or niqab. If they don't abide by these rules, dress code regulations can result in harassment or legal repercussions but those repercussions no longer include flogging in the streets as of 2020! YAY!

Picking Saudi Arabia to be the leader in anything associated with women seems to be not good imo. Maybe we should wait until women have been able to drive for at least a decade to crown the Saudi crown as the leaders in Women's progress, because as of right now, appointing them to lead is like making my good friend Kate the head of the healthy bones commission.