BEING first is nothing new for Thoraya Ahmed Obaid. In 1974, she was the first Saudi woman to complete her doctorate at Wayne State University in the US. Later, she became the first Saudi woman to serve as be under-secretary-general and executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
A tireless proponent of women’s rights, Obaid credits experience, family and government support for her success.
“I am particularly honored by getting the support of my government, and in particular the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, in reaching this position,” Obaid told Arab News during an exclusive interview. “I see myself as an example of a Muslim, Arab and Saudi woman who was supported by a caring and forward-looking father, Al-Sayed Ahmed Obaid, and by a supportive government that committed itself to girls’ education.”
Obaid said it was a long road that brought her to where she stands today.
“I’ve been at the UN for three decades now, starting as a social affairs officer in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in Lebanon. That was in 1975 — the International Women’s Year — and the United Nations was looking for qualified women,” she said. “I was qualified, and God willed it to have me apply for the first job at the right time and the right place. At ESCWA, I was responsible for women’s programs, creating the first United Nations women’s program for the region. I started as a young professional and went up the ladder. I really had to prove myself, and I had to work very hard to make it, but God’s care was immense.”
She now finds herself in a unique position where she can make a difference for women and families around the globe.
“My first priority is to improve the lives of women, especially young women, in the developing countries, including the Arab region,” Obaid said. “It’s shameful that in the 21st century women still die due to pregnancy and birth-related complications that could be avoided if proper medical care was available to them.”
The numbers are shocking.
“We have statistics reporting that every minute of every hour of every day, one woman dies from pregnancy or birth-related complications that are preventable,” she said. “About 500,000 — yes, half a million —women die every year, and yet it isn’t a headline in any newspaper or on television. It’s also shameful that illiteracy among women is more than among men globally. Women constitute the majority of the poor, refugees and internally displaced. It is more shameful that in the Arab region, the statistics about the death of mothers and the illiteracy of women place the region between the African and South Asian regions.”
Obaid says the United Nations can help to change things for the better.
“Our work is to promote what we call reproductive health for women so that they can have better quality in their lives,” she said. “If women can plan their families through spacing, if they can make decisions about the number and spacing of their children, if they can have a trained birth attendant, if they can access emergency obstetric care when they face birthing complications, then they do not have to die or face chronic illnesses for the rest of their lives. That is what reproductive health is all about. We also promote the education of young girls. And, as you know, a major positive effect of women’s health and education is manifested in their families, their societies and eventually their countries.”
Her work with the UN is more than a job; it’s a mission.
“I always pray that I can succeed in my work to expand programs for the well-being of women so that they can be as fortunate as I am,” Obaid said. “Our objective is to allow poor and disadvantaged women to enjoy the support of their families, communities and governments so that they can lead healthy lives, complete their education, become active in their communities and societies and make decisions about their lives. This is one main objective of the work we do at the United Nations Population Fund. I also hope to work with governments, NGOs and the private sector to ensure that young people have a safe and productive life — safe from poverty and from illness, including HIV and AIDS, and that they can be equipped to work so that they can actually find jobs.”
Obaid is grateful for Saudi government policies that have helped her to do great things.
“There was the solid support that I was fortunate to get from my government, especially King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz very early in my university years,” she said. “First, it provided me with a scholarship to study in the United States in 1963, making me the first girl from the Kingdom to receive a government scholarship to study there. Then, it nominated me in 2000 to the position of UNFPA Executive Director, which I have been occupying since January 2001. This support was instrumental in allowing me to reach one of the highest ranks that an Arab woman was able to reach at the United Nations — Under-Secretary-General. I never dreamt that my country would recognize me and honor me with its support, and when it was a reality I was both proud and humbled. Most importantly, I thank Almighty God for all his blessings, which made all this possible.”
Although it is obvious that the empowerment of women in Saudi Arabia is increasing, Obaid says there is still a long way to go.
“I unfortunately see continued barriers against women in some aspects of our society,” she said. “Traditions and customs, stereotypes, and an interpretation of God’s Holy words and the words of his Prophet, peace be upon Him, that isn’t in line with the generous spirit of Islam and its special attention to women, are some of the obstacles facing women in the Kingdom.”
She said she believes woman will play a vital role in Saudi Arabia’s economic development.
“Women are ‘the sisters of men’ as the Prophet, peace be upon Him, said. As such, they are half of the society’s wealth; for any society can only be rich by its people, and that includes women,” Obaid said. “Excluding them from many areas of specialization and work only deprives the society of half of its potential. Like men, God has given women the mind and the spirit and, thus, the wisdom to decide freely and responsibly about their lives, their families, their education and their work. And the society and the country’s leadership should trust them and believe in their capacity and potentials that would free the country from many of its economic and social problems. As I said, I have great confidence in the wisdom of our leaders.”
The potential impact of women’s involvement in the Saudi economy should not be underestimated.
“I saw my sisters as individuals who are committed to their faith, their country and to their identity,” Obaid said. “They are serious and want to be active in the destiny of their society; they have dreams of a better world and better society, and they want to be active in creating it. We love our country, and we want to serve it to the best of our abilities. Our country needs to give us the confidence, support and space to do so. We need to feel and live as full citizens of our country; to me citizenship is a very lofty responsibility that we will be committed to carry out to the best of our abilities. As for me, I have my own dream like many of my sisters in the Kingdom — to be able to cast a voting ballot in an election in the Kingdom. We are not less than the women of Afghanistan for sure! I am waiting, and I hope it comes soon.”
What can parents do to ensure that their little girls get the chance to play a role on the world stage?
“There is no doubt that my parents’ decision to educate me and ensure that I gained the knowledge that would allow me to make correct decisions in my life was the basis for where I am now,” Obaid said. “Education is the key to people’s lives. My father was especially supportive and felt that it was his moral duty as a true believer to ensure that all his children were educated because true belief is based on knowledge and the workings of the mind. Through knowledge, one can distinguish right actions from wrong actions and make the correct decisions when choosing which road to take in one’s life.”
