The Los Angeles Times runs this Reuters piece on the findings of a United Nations panel on women’s rights that decried the way Saudi Arabia constricts the ability of women to lead normal lives. You can find the report (COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN CONSIDERS REPORT OF SAUDI ARABIA) at the website of the UN in Geneva. It goes through every article of the ‘Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women’, presenting questions from the panel and Saudi responses.
Saudi restrictions on women questioned
A U.N. panel takes the kingdom to task for curbing their rights. The government denies discriminationGENEVA — Saudi Arabia, appearing Thursday for the first time before a United Nations women’s rights panel, faced tough questions over restrictions on “virtually every aspect of a woman’s life” in the kingdom.
The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women monitors adherence to a 1979 international bill of rights for women. Saudi Arabia ratified that pact in 2000, with the proviso that Islamic Sharia law would prevail if there were any contradiction with its provisions.
The Saudi delegates came under fire during the debate for their country’s system of male guardianship that requires women to seek permission to travel, work or see a doctor.
“Only when women are free to make their own decisions on all aspects of their life are they full citizens,” committee member Maria Regina Tavares da Silva said at the one-day session in Geneva.
“Without a man’s consent, a woman cannot study or get health service, work, marry, conduct business or even get an ambulance service in an emergency,” said Heisoo Shin, another panelist. She said the rules “governed virtually every aspect of a woman’s life.”
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January:18:2008 - 14:54
I did not get a chance to read the complete report yet, but had some quick observations from the pieces I read.
That was the response given to the degree of involvement of women in the study. I would think the number should have been reversed where women should have been the majority participants (i.e.25% men). The other observation is that the presenter was a man. I think we have many qualified women that could have made the presentation and would have been more effective to show that we are giving them more prominent roles. I am also not sure how many women were in the delegation and whether any were given opportunity to speak. I did not see any women’s names quoted. Perhaps I missed something since I gave it a quick read.
This is a response given regarding whether Saudi is using local conventions in restricting women freedoms. The important part here is this is the first time I saw a direct discussion of codification of Laws. This will be a huge step to go a long with the judicial reforms to be undertaken.
That was a response for the raising of the issue of abusing domestics. I am looking forward to see this new system. It is over due.
January:18:2008 - 16:01
Overdue indeed.
I also note that in one of the responses, it was alleged that there are women on the Shoura Council. Not to my knowledge. There is a female ‘advisor’ that I’m aware of, but not a full member yet.
Has this changed without my notice? If so, that’s a major change.
January:19:2008 - 07:54
No John this had not changed.
In 2006 – or early 2007 not sure – it was announced that 6 women from Academia were chosen to be “Part time Consultants” in the by-invitation-only Majlis. They are:
Wafa Taibah –
Omaima Al Jalahmah –
Noura Al Yosef
Noura AL Adwan
Nihad Jeshey
and
Baheeja Ezzi
You think if things had changed you would miss the Propaganda and the pre-event rumors?? Come on you’ve been reporting about Saudia long enough to know how things go
Regards
January:19:2008 - 09:17
I do know how things go, but I’ve missed blogging six or seven days this past year. That’s just enough of a window for something extraordinary to happen in the KSA! Something like that would likely not be covered in any international media, either.