Belgium voted Saudi Arabia into UN women's rights commission

It is likely that Belgium voted for Saudi Arabia's membership in the UN women's rights commission, according to Belgian MPs Els Van Hoof and Wouter De Vriendt, based on a statement made by foreign affairs minister Didier Reynders on Wednesday in front of the foreign affairs chamber committee.

While Reynders did not say it literally, he defended the seat of the Salafist country when he stated that “within the UN, everything must be debatable and dialogue must be possible with everyone.”

"A 'yes' vote from Belgium is simply shocking and hard to stomach for all of those who fight for women's rights," says De Vriendt. “In his attempt to not offend Saudi Arabia, Minister Reynders is legitimising the violation of women's rights. The country is an example of how it should not be done. Women there are victims of systematic discrimination: not allowed to drive a car, take part in politics, go anywhere by themselves or make their own decisions."

The Groen party will ask prime minister Charles Michel to start an inquiry into the matter, De Vriendt announced.