Outrage as Saudi Arabia picked to head women's rights forum

Saudi Arabia's UN ambassador, Abdulaziz Alwasil, has been chosen to chair the world body's Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) after the country's bid for the position remained unopposed, APA reports citing Deutsche Welle.

The choice has been slammed by rights groups, as women in Saudi Arabia itself are severely disadvantaged under law.

Such posts rotate among the UN’s five regional groups, and are usually confirmed unanimously, in a precedent that other countries may have been unwilling to upset. The Asia group, which includes Saudi Arabia, unanimously confirmed the Saudi candidacy.