Reforms edit
A number of reforms have aimed to improve the position of women in Saudi society.
On 25 September 2011, King Abdullah announced that Saudi women would gain the right to vote in municipal elections provided that a male guardian granted permission.[1] Women voted for the first time in the 2015 municipal elections, when 978 women registered as the kingdom’s first female candidates.[2]
In August 2013, a law was passed that criminalized domestic violence against women. The ban includes penalties of a 12-month jail sentence and fines of up to 50,000 riyals ($13,000).[3] This was followed in 2018 by law criminalizing sexual harassment.[4]
In December 2017 the country’s first concert by a female performer took place in Riyadh.[5] The following month Saudi women were allowed to enter sports stadiums for the first time.[6]
In March 2018, a law was passed allowing Saudi mothers to retain custody of their children after divorce without the need to file any lawsuits.[7]
In June 2018, King Salman issued a decree allowing women to drive, lifting the world's only ban on women drivers.[8]
The Saudi Vision 2030 program includes a commitment to increase female participation in the workforce from 22% to 30% by 2030.[9] As of 2018 Saudi women can open businesses without a male's permission, work in the Public Prosecution Office and the Ministry of Justice, and join the military.[10][11][12][13] In February that year there were 600,000 women employed in the private sector, up from 90,000 in 2011.[14]
- ^ "Women in Saudi Arabia to vote and run in elections". BBC News Online. 25 September 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia's women vote in election for first time". BBC News Online. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ Heather Saul (29 August 2013). "Saudi Arabia cabinet passes ban on domestic violence". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- ^ Paul Harrison; Mohamed El Aassar (29 May 2018). "Saudi Arabia to criminalise sexual harassment". BBC News Online. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- ^ Lydia Smith (9 December 2017). "Saudi Arabia hosts first-ever concert by female performer". The Independent. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia to allow women to enter stadiums to watch soccer". New York Post. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ Tamara Qiblawi (12 March 2018). "Divorced Saudi women win right to get custody of children". CNN. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ "Landmark day for Saudi women as kingdom's controversial driving ban ends". CNN. 24 June 2018.
- ^ Ahmed Al Omran (1 September 2017). "Saudi Arabia edges more women into work". Financial Times. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- ^ "Saudi women to start own business without male permission". Al Arabiya. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- ^ Sam Bridge (14 July 2018). "Saudi Attorney General set to appoint first female investigators". Arabian Business. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Justice grants 12 women 'verification' license". Arab News. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia allows women to join military". BBC News Online. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- ^ Sarah Hassan (7 February 2018). "Saudi women join the workforce as country reforms". CNN. Retrieved 19 November 2018.