RIYADH: Shoura member Haya Al-Manea said that political will and and recent government decisions have contributed greatly to empowering Saudi women to obtain their rights and reach decision-making positions, a local newspaper reported Sunday.

“The achievements of Saudi women were realized by a political decision and were not the product of women's mass movement. Our customs, social norms and traditions have always dominated women's affairs in Saudi Arabia.

No woman or society in general can overcome such customs and traditions except with the aid of direct political will,” Al-Manea was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

She referred to the achievements of Saudi women in the education sector, as well as their participation in the Shoura Council and the municipal councils as evidence of this political will. “This is evident also in the fact that many women now work in the government and private sectors and in the field of international representation.

We should also not forget the role of the Saudi media in supporting the women during the past 20 years, especially column writers," she said.

On the most important challenges facing Saudi women, Al-Manea said: “It is the multiplicity of roles that is key here: balancing between her responsibilities toward her family and as a productive member of the workforce in the country.

"We also have many legislations that treat women as minors or children, or as incomplete, such as the personal status system, the passport system and some internal systems at universities.

But it is high time that government regulations finally deal with women as adults and full-fledged human beings."

She also said: "Beyond this, we need to address the high unemployment rates among women, the failings of the transport network and the many injustices involved in not allowing women to drive, in particular. In addition, we also need to deal with the way women are treated in the work environment as well as the lack of protective legislations against harassment.”