A number of Saudi businesswomen and activists have participated in a training program regarding the activities and tasks of municipal councils held in coordination with the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Secretary of the regional council recently. The training program seeks to qualify the women so as to enable them to participate in the forthcoming municipal elections, which will take place in the coming months. In an historical move, these are the first elections in the history of the Kingdom that will involve the participation of women as both voters and candidates.
The Baladi (My country) initiative, which was launched 4 years ago, seeks to support women in familiarizing them on the stages and processes necessary to vote, as well as directions on how to nominate themselves to be elected, how to lead an election campaign, how to enhance the culture of voting and other related issues.
The preparations made by many participating Saudi women during this election cycle has already shown that they are ready to be involved in the national election process as voters, candidates, organizers of campaigns, directors, coordinators, and foremost , as winners.
“I participated in the program in order to learn more about the election process, and not to nominate myself,” said Nora Yassin, a businesswoman, adding “I really wanted to know how female candidates can properly participate in the whole process.”
She also noted that all Saudi women are looking forward to participating in the programs in order to know what they can achieve by being members of the municipal councils.
One female trainer with the program, Wijdan Al-Saeed, said that the training course seeks to prepare female participants for a more in-depth understanding of the election process from the moment of candidacy announcements, until the voting day itself.
“The main objective of the program is to increase the information available to women so that they can become full participants — and drivers — of the important election process,” added Al-Saeed.
Businesswomen prepare for municipal elections
