Saudi Arabia and Women Empowerment: Righting Past Wrongs
By Zekeri Idakwo
Saudi Arabia, a country known for its conservative culture and strict gender norms, has been undergoing a series of reforms in recent years to improve the status and rights of women in society and the economy. The Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan, launched in 2016, is aimed at diversifying the economy, reducing dependence on oil, and increasing the participation of women in the workforce to over 30%.
Recently, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Human Capacity Development, Faris bin Saleh Al-Saqabi, said, “the ministry has successfully formulated a strategy for developing human capabilities in the industrial and mining sectors to boost women’s role in the industry.”
The Minister noted that “Saudi Arabia’s efforts to promote women’s participation in mining industry include the establishment of mining engineering departments at several universities, such as King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, among others. These collaborations aim to develop specialisations that contribute to women’s participation in the industrial sector.”
Similarly, as part of its efforts to support women in the education sector, in Yemen, KSrelief recently launched an education program to train girls who have been unable to attend school. The programme aims to help these girls reintegrate into the school system and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
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In the same vein, some of the notable reforms that have been implemented to empower women include: lifting the ban on women driving in 2018; allowing women to travel abroad without a male guardian’s permission in 2019; granting women equal rights to inheritance and divorce in 2020; and expanding women’s access to education, health care, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
These reforms have been met with both praise and criticism from different segments of society, as well as from international observers and human rights groups. Some view them as positive steps towards gender equality and social justice, while others see them as insufficient, superficial, or driven by economic and political interests. Some also point out the challenges and obstacles that women still face in Saudi Arabia, such as lack of equal representation in government institutions.
Despite these challenges, many Saudi women have been taking advantage of the new opportunities and freedom to pursue their personal and professional goals, and to contribute to the development and modernisation of their country.
Saudi women have since been making remarkable achievements in various fields, such as science, technology, arts, sports, and politics, and have been gaining recognition and respect at home and abroad .
Saudi Arabia through the Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, is committed to promoting women’s empowerment, despite past challenges, and the reforms have had a significant impact on the lives and aspirations of Saudi women. However, it also acknowledged that there is still room for improvement and that more efforts are needed to ensure the full realisation of women’s rights and potential in the Kingdom.
