The sweeping advances for Saudi women announced by Saudi Arabia will help dismantle the country’s discriminatory male guardianship system. The changes were announced as many activists who have campaigned for these reforms continue to be tried or imprisoned in retaliation for their advocacy.
The legal changes, adopted by a decision of the Council of Ministers and approved by Royal Decree M.134, will allow Saudi women to obtain passports without the consent of a male relative, register their children’s births and benefit from new protections against discrimination benefit in the workplace. Official Saudi sources have announced that women over 21 will no longer need permission from a male guardian to travel abroad. Still, the cabinet decision does not refer to women’s freedom to travel.
Saudi women will play a crucial role in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (Saudi Arabia) development strategy, Vision 2030. The number of Saudi women in leadership positions has increased over the past decade, and the kingdom recently passed new reforms to improve its women’s history. Empowerment and gender equality.
Last year, the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law 2020 report recognized Saudi Arabia as the world’s leading reformer. Saudi Arabia has introduced landmark reforms to encourage women’s economic empowerment. The measures introduced freedom of travel and movement for women over 21.
The decrees lifted restrictions on women leaving home and balanced women’s right to choose where to live. They outlawed gender discrimination in employment, the firing of pregnant women, and gender discrimination in access to credit. The decrees introduced equal pensions, equalizing the retirement age for men and women and making maternity leave pension credits compulsory.
These bold reforms fundamentally changed the legal rights of women in Saudi Arabia. 5.5 million Saudi women over 21 are already benefiting from the reforms and will continue to reap the benefits for generations.
“Today, husbands and fathers can watch their wives and daughters participate in the UK economy with confidence, as several recent legislative changes protect women from discrimination in the labor market,” says AbouSleiman. “These laws include criminalizing sexual harassment in the workplace, prohibiting employers from dismissing a woman during pregnancy and maternity leave, and equalizing the retirement age for women and men at age 60, thereby reducing working lives, earnings, and the Women’s contributions will be extended.
Women hold decision-making positions in public and private sectors, such as deputy ministers, ambassadors, university directors, and CEOs of various companies. Women have broken the proverbial glass ceiling in every industry: Saudi Arabia now has its first professional female racing driver, award-winning female film producers, and female judges.
In addition, they may serve on the Shura government advisory council, vote in local elections, and hold specific retail and hospitality jobs as part of the government’s 2030 Vision to diversify the oil-dependent economy by boosting employment.
Women participate in the labor market, drive on the roads, and are more independent, especially with the relaxation of guardianship laws over the past year. Instruments such as the Sexual Harassment Act were put in place to ensure their safety, and they found full government support to facilitate their ambitions, including appointment to high office.
