NEW YORK CITY: Vision 2030 has become a reality of empowerment for all women and girls in Saudi Arabia, according to Sima Bahous, the executive director of UN Women.
She predicted that the rise of women and their role in the Kingdom in recent years is just the beginning — “and the beginning of a very good story.”
Bahous was speaking at a high-level event on the sidelines of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, during which Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Kingdom’s envoy to the UN and chairperson of the commission this year, outlined the transformative strides Saudi Arabia has taken to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women in various sectors.
The event, titled “From Vision to Reality: Saudi Arabia’s Story of Women’s Empowerment,” highlighted the policies and initiatives that have helped to propel the participation of women in the Kingdom’s labor market, and promote their roles in diverse fields such as technology, innovation and renewable energy.
“We have seen the removal of employment restrictions, growing opportunities for female entrepreneurs, and the rise of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and leadership roles,” Bahous said.
“This is a shift not just about numbers but it is a shift about impact, and it is only the beginning of the story — and the beginning of a very good story.”
The way forward, she continued, is clear: partnerships need to be strengthened, policies must be implemented and institutions should be reinforced.
“We need inclusive economies, gender-balanced leadership and data-driven solutions to track and sustain progress,” Bahous said.
“And we need to listen to young women, to grassroots leaders, to those driving change from the ground up.”
The momentum in Saudi Arabia is undeniable, she added, and continues to build: “The journey is going but it is not over. The path ahead demands more transformative action. It calls for more progress that is not just imagined by some, but lived by all.”
Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia’s plan for national development and the diversification of its economy to reduce the reliance on oil.
