Women This Week: Saudi Arabia to Chair the Commission on the Status of Women

Backlash as Saudi Arabia Leads Mission on Gender Equality 

Saudi Arabia has become the latest country to chair the United National Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). In a move condemned by human rights advocates, Saudi Arabia was elected in an unopposed bid after the Philippines was pressured to step aside. Countries are elected to the council for a two-year term on a rotating basis from one of five regional groups. Both Saudi Arabia and the Philippines are part of the Asia group, so the exit by the Philippines allowed Saudi Arabia to step into the role. Human rights groups are voicing outrage that every other member of the fifty-country commission stayed silent in the face of Saudi Arabia’s ascendancy, given its poor record on human rights, including gender equality. “Whoever is in the chair, which is now Saudi Arabia, is in a key position to influence the planning, the decisions, the taking stock, and looking ahead, in a critical year for the commission,” said Sherine Tadros, head of the New York office of Amnesty International. “Saudi Arabia is now at the helm, but Saudi Arabia’s own record on women’s rights is abysmal, and a far cry from the mandate of the commission.” 

U.S. Supreme Court to Preserve Protections on Abortion Pill 

This week, the Supreme Court indicated that it is likely to preserve access to mifepristone, an oral abortion medication. In its first abortion case since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the court appeared to reject the plaintiff's argument that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—which approved the mifepristone in 2000 and made it more widely available in 2021—erred in its decision-making process by ignoring safety issues with the drug. The plaintiffs specifically argued that healthcare providers opposed to the use of mifepristone could find themselves in a position to treat patients suffering from complications after using the drug. However, the court could not find any evidence of direct harm to healthcare providers and seemed to suggest that in light of this, the plaintiffs lack legal standing to challenge the FDA’s decision. A final ruling is expected by the court in late June or early July.   

First Woman Completes the Barkley Marathon 

Jasmin Paris became the first woman to finish the Barkley Marathon, one of the world’s toughest races. She completed the race, which requires running one hundred miles with over sixty thousand feet of ascents and descents, in just under the sixty-hour cut-off. Paris explained, “I'm glad that I kind of did it for women worldwide as well - not just runners - but any woman that wants to take on a challenge and maybe doesn't have the confidence,” she continued, “The idea that I might have inspired them to believe in themselves… that's huge, especially all the young girls - you know how hard it is to keep young girls in sports.” Only twenty people have completed the course since it began due to its challenging terrain and requirement for contestants to self-navigate.