Okaz newspaper

THE Ministry of Labor and Social Development announced recently that its candidate Dr. Tamader Bint Yousuf Al-Rammah, the deputy minister, has been appointed as a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in the United Nations.

This is not ordinary news. The move is important considering many factors.

Foreign organizations have highlighted the issue of women rights in the Kingdom, not because of their love for Saudi women nor to protect their rights or prevent discrimination against them but to tarnish the image of Saudi Arabia.

The international human rights organizations have been campaigning against the Kingdom for long to create an impression that Saudi women were not receiving any rights and face a variety of discrimination. We know that the rights issue was a major topic raised by organizations seeking political change in some Arab countries.

Many Arab citizens support the views of foreign human rights organizations oblivious to the conspiracy behind such moves, which have created chaos and confusion in some countries of the Middle East. Many citizens were being used as tools to realize political change.

Of course, we have to improve on human rights, especially women rights. Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman has pointed out this fact on different occasions while speaking to the media. We already know that the Kingdom is making great efforts to improve the rights situation.

We can now say with utmost confidence that in less than two years, we have achieved remarkable strides in protecting women rights. We have never expected that all these developments would take place with this speed.

I am sure representatives of countries that voted for the Kingdom’s membership in CERD did not do so as a favor but because of the progress achieved by the country in protecting women rights and preventing discrimination against women.

Of course, our strong representation in the United Nations has played a big role in realizing this important achievement.

Some people cause headaches while discussing CERD and its reports without understanding the ground reality and the Kingdom’s efforts to change the situation.

Saudi Arabia will go ahead with its reforms, making gradual changes and taking its people into confidence. We know our situation and we do not need the patronage of others in this respect.