Local media are reporting that King Salman of Saudia Arabia has issued a decree that women can now benefit from some government services, like education and healthcare, without first requiring the permission of their male guardian. Numerous outlets are reporting that the "services" mentioned in the decree include travel.
The decree is not a total win for women, as it also stipulates that women may still require a guardian's consent for certain services if "there is a legal basis for this request in accordance with the provisions of the Islamic Shariah."
According to Arab News, Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, the president of Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Commission said he welcomed the gesture and that it "reflects King Salman's care of his people and embodies his concern to simplify procedures for women who constitute half of Saudi society and who are a major partner in the development of the society."
While many are hailing the new decree, human rights advocate Abdullah Al-Alami is urging citizens to express cautious optimism.
"The new order is not clear yet and does not state under what circumstances a woman should or should not obtain the consent of her guardian for services provided to her," Al-Alami told Arab News. Moreover, he says he believes the law was primarily introduced to satisfy the Human Rights Commission in part because Saudi Arabia was invited to become a member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women last year.
The decree is clearly a work in progress. It includes the caveat that Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court is asking "concerned agencies" to list, within three months, all "procedures" that would still require the approval of the woman's guardian and an explanation of why those procedures should be exempted from the new law.
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On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, notoriously known for its segregation of women, has shown some signs of loosening its rigid stance on women's rights. In 2011, women were given the right to join the Shoura Council, an advisory government council, by the late King the late King Abdullah. In 2013, 30 women joined the council. Additionally, women are now permitted to vote, hold a limited number of jobs and even run for office in local elections without first obtaining permission.
Lina Almaeena, a member of the Shoura Council says she believes that work permits, which do require guardian consent for women, will be among the "services" covered by the new decree. Almaeena points to Saudi Vision 2030, a plan that has been nicknamed "Saudi Arabia's Blueprint for Life After Oil," and which calls for an increase of women in the workforce, as proof that women will soon be able to hold jobs without first seeking approval.
One thing missing from the decree is driver's permits, which will still require the consent of a male guardian. But Suhaila Zain Al-Abideen, a member of the National Society for Human Rights says she believes permits will be the next item to become available to all women. In particular, because the growing female workforce will need more transportation options to get to work.
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While Saudi Arabia could well be making progress with respect to women's rights, it still ranked 141 out of 144 countries in last year's Global Gender Gap, a World Economic Forum study which analyzes the participation of women in such situations as economics, politics, healthcare and education.
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