The United Nations report on September 17 confirmed that Saudi Arabia ambassador Faisal bin Hassan Trad has been appointed as the chair of the Human Rights Council (HRC), despite the country having "arguably the worst record in the world" on freedoms for women, minorities and religion.

The influential role will give Trad the power to select applicants from around the world for scores of expert roles in countries where the UN has a mandate on human rights. Such experts are often referred to as...