UN Reviews Saudi Arabia Human Rights Record Today

The United Nations Human Rights Council implements a Universal Periodic Review process that reviews the human rights record of each of the UN's 192 members once every four years. Today in Geneva, the Council will focus on the human rights record of Saudi Arabia. AFP reports that among the Council's numerous concerns are strict Islamic practices in Saudi Arabia that require a male guardian's permission for women to travel, work or marry. Critics also say that the country's sharia-based legal system has too few precedents and places too much discretion in the hands of religiously trained judges. Other human rights concerns have also been raised. Human Rights Watch reports that the Council will consider three separate reports: one from the Saudis, one from UN observers and one from non-governmental organizations. Saudi's Human Rights Commission will say that progress has been made, and will ask for patience as it deals with "inherited customs and traditions."