Two nations not known as beacons of light for women worldwide, are members of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which begins its annual session this week.
The Islamic Republic of Iran was elected in 2014 to a four-year term on the commission, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia begins its term this year.
On its website, the women’s commission describes itself as “the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.”
In Saudi Arabia, women, among many restrictions under the Islamic regime, must obtain the permission of a male guardian before they can travel outside the country, work or marry.
Nevertheless,