Saudi Arabia's new girls council was missing something very important

Girls. It was missing girls! The council established for the advancement of Women was unveiled by an all male panel.

On Monday, thirteen men assembled to launched the 'Qassim Girl's Council'.

Images from the event held in al-Qassim provinces, show a room full of men.

Women were apparently in another room, linked to the action via video.

Their absence didn't go unnoticed.

In Saudi Arabia, 'male guardianship' laws severely restrict women's freedom. They did however, celebrate the kingdom's first ever 'Women's Day' this year.

Regardless of this small amount of progress, gender segregation between unrelated men and woman remains rigorously enforced.

It couldn't happen here

The photo tells a story to this photo.

The men behind President Trump: US Vice President Mike Pence; White House Chief of Staff Reince Preibus; Peter Navarro, Director of the National Trade Council; Jared Kushner, Senior Advisor to the President; Steven Miller, Senior Advisor to the President; unknown; and Steve Bannon, White House Chief Strategist. (Picture: Ron Sachs - Pool/Getty Images)

It was taken on 23 January, and shows the president of the United States signing an executive order, surrounded by his closest (male) advisors.

The order removed aid funding for foreign NGOs and charities that provided access to safe abortions, known as the 'Mexico City' rule.

Men unveiling a policy that changes the lives of women, is not an phenomenon restricted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

HT BBC, the Independent

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