JEDDAH: The Council of Ministers yesterday emphasized the government’s resolve to protect the rights of women and prevent violence against them. “Royal decrees have been issued to protect the rights of women at judicial institutions and tackle delays in this respect,” a Cabinet statement said.
The Cabinet meeting, which was presided over by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, also called for efforts to increase awareness among women about their rights.
“The meeting emphasized that the rules and regulations to protect the rights of individuals must be followed,” said Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani. “No measures should be taken in violation of those rights and freedoms except within the framework of Shariah laws,” the Saudi Press Agency said, quoting the Cabinet.
Abdul Ilah Saaty of the Jeddah Community College welcomed the government’s decision to improve the condition of Saudi women. “Our women have suffered for decades because their legitimate rights were not protected.” He emphasized the need to change society’s view toward women’s rights. “Islam protects the rights of women. The Qur’an and Sunnah urge Muslims to be kind to women. But we are not doing that.”
He said the problem was with a wrong interpretation of Islamic teachings. “If a woman does not want to live with her husband and wants a divorce, it takes years for her to win her right. Our judicial system is old fashioned, bureaucratic and should be changed as quickly as possible. Women suffer a lot in courts. It is time to change. We are not demanding what Western women have. We are asking for rights within the framework of Shariah.”
Nadia Baeshen of King Abdul Aziz University called for the implementation of Cabinet decisions regarding the employment and empowerment of women.
“I strongly believe that all these government declarations are made for propaganda because we don’t see anything in practice,” said Baeshen, a prominent advocate of women’s rights.
“We have seen so many such statements during the past six years but the concerned ministries and government departments are doing nothing to improve women’s conditions,” she added.
Saudi Arabia has signed the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. “But we are not complying with the terms and conditions of that declaration,” Baeshen said.
She called for the formation of a committee of prominent women to follow up on government resolutions aimed at improving the condition of women. “They would meet with the concerned ministries and report to the Cabinet.”
She said many decisions taken by the Cabinet regarding women have not reached low-level government employees and remain unimplemented. “We need a plan of action, and all obstacles and roadblocks facing women removed. We want to see action, not just statements.”
Spelling out other decisions taken by the Cabinet, Madani said the meeting licensed the formation of a holding company for the development of education.
