Saudi Arabia takes over chairmanship of the UN Commission on Women's Rights. Abdulaziz Alwasil, Saudi Arabia's UN envoy, will be chairman.
Saudi Arabia is trying to polish its image to the outside world with reforms. At the same time, deeply patriarchal structures still prevail in the ultra-conservative country.. Human rights activists accuse the Saudi royal family of only faking its desire for reform.. Public criticism, especially from activists, is often met with draconian prison sentences.