At one stage the mere mention of Saudi women participating as voters and candidates in Saudi elections would have been dismissed as farfetched, but this is no longer the case after the historic municipal council polls this past week.
Twenty Saudi women will soon take their seats on municipal councils across the country, having won them fairly through the ballot box alongside their fellow men candidates.
These elections have garnered praise from citizens and civil society organizations inside the country but also from abroad because of the presence of a large number of foreign journalists, who bore witness to this remarkable event.
The polls have further advanced the participation of women in the public sphere. It comes in the wake of 30 women being appointed to the Shoura Council, representation that is considered high compared to other parliaments in the world. This has not been a cosmetic change because women have over the years played a valuable role in this consultative body.
There is undoubtedly a burgeoning sense of democratic principles taking root in this country because even though some people have objected to women participating in public office, there has been an acceptance of the opinion of the majority.
While the input of women will no doubt strengthen the oversight functions of municipal councils, a welcome social dimension is that it is teaching people the importance of peaceful coexistence, even between those with sharply diverging views. When young people learn this principle from a young age, and grow up seeking common ground with others instead of focusing on differences, we ensure a healthy and cohesive society.
There can be no doubt that the new structure of municipal councils would improve their functioning. The previous system was flawed because it did not give councilors sufficient powers to make a difference on the ground.
The new councils will have greater powers to generate and implement service projects for the public, based on approved allocations. Their oversight over the budget process has also been strengthened, which will further enhance the performance of municipalities.
Monitoring and supervision of public projects is a vital function, especially considering the country’s experiences over the years after heavy rainfall, which has led to severe flooding and consequently significant loss of life and damage to property.
These latest developments show, yet again, that the Saudi government is committed to ensuring that women can enjoy their full rights. There have been several other changes to civil status laws that have entrenched women’s participation in commercial activities and the right to represent themselves.
The fact that Saudi women have recorded remarkable achievements across various sectors in industry and academia, show that there has been a need to change the system to allow for their fuller involvement.
The government is pushing through these reforms in a bid to enhance the country’s economy without jeopardizing the religious principles that are the foundation of the nation.
Saudi Arabia has considerable economic and human resources, with most of the population under 30 years of age. With the development of the private sector and creation of an environment conducive to foreign investors, the country needs educated and skilled young men and women. People are our true capital.
The municipal elections have not only seen the country continue along the path of political change but, most importantly for the wellbeing of the nation, also demonstrated a qualitative societal shift where ideological differences are accepted and respected.
