RIYADH — For the first time in the history of the Saudi Shoura Council, a large number of women members have been picked to serve in its various committees. There are 24 women in 14 Shoura committees, which were hitherto monopolized by their male counterparts. The security affairs committee includes a woman doctor and seven former security officials, most of them are major generals. Each Shoura committee consists of nine members besides the chairman and deputy chairman and each member participates in one specialized committee based on his/her experience, and its duration is one year. It is permissible to re-nominate chairman and deputy chairman for one time only and they are elected by secret ballot. The committees shall study whatever subjects are referred to them and submit their reports and recommendations for deliberations in the council. Dr. Zainab Bint Muthanna Abu Talib was chosen as the chairperson of the health committee and Dr. Saleh Al-Shuhayeb is deputy chairman. Women occupy half of the committee's membership, and they are Dr. Ameera Al-Balawi, Dr. Alia Al-Dahlawi, Dr. Mona Al-Mushayt, and Dr. Najwa Al-Ghamdi. This is in recognition of the vast experiences of the women members have in the health and administrative fields. Dr. Maha Al-Sinan has been chosen deputy chairperson of the culture, media, and tourism and antiquities committee. There are three women members in the committee — Dr. Iman Al-Jabreen, Dr. Haifa Al-Shammari, and Mona Abid Khazandar. Dr. Amal Al-Shaman was elected deputy chairperson of the education and scientific research committee while Dr. Aisha Zakri will serve as a member. Kawthar Al-Arbash, a leading figure, has been chosen as the deputy chairperson of the human rights committee and Dr. Latifa Al-Shaalan, who has extensive parliamentary experience, is a member. It is expected that the files of women and children will get extra care and keenness under Al-Arbash and Al-Shaalan. Likewise, Dr. Samia Bukhari is the new deputy chairperson of the human resources and administration committee. Dr. Ameera Al-Jaafari, Dr. Sultan Al-Badawi, and Dr. Mona Al-Fadhli are the members of the committee, which is tasked with handling employment files and address the pending issues of women and their employment concerns. Princess Al-Jawhara Bint Fahd Al-Saud has been chosen as the deputy chairperson of the committee of social affairs, family, and youth, and the women members of the committee are Dr. Amal Al-Sheikh, Somayya Jabarti, and Dr. Reema Saleh Al-Yahya. The committee is tasked with addressing urgent files of Saudi families and youth. Dr. Latifa Al-Abdul Karim, Dr. Asma Al-Muwaisheer, Huda Al-Holaisi, and Ayisha Oraishi are the women members picked to represent committees for transport and communications, Hajj and services, foreign affairs, water, and agriculture. These are committees in which men still command the majority. Dr. Mastoura Al-Shammari is the woman member of the security affairs committee, which is headed by Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Asiri. The committee members include Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, former spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, and five other brigadiers and major generals. Dr. Iman Al-Zahrani and Hanan Al-Samari are women members of the economics and energy committee while Raeda Abu Nayan was will be a member of the finance committee.
