The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has called for more efforts to promote and protect women rights. In a report issued Sunday, the HRC said that “the margin of freedom given to a Saudi woman is expanding, and that the system is protecting her rights and guaranteeing her a decent life.” The report added that many Saudi women are enjoying independence with dignity as stipulated in Article 26 of the Basic System of Governance, which stipulates “protecting human rights in accordance with Islamic Shariah.” The HRC report stressed on ensuring that women are employed at agencies for them, and called for more job opportunities for them given their progress in education and various professions. “The Saudi woman now has an effective presence in many positions,” the report said. “Saudi women have proved themselves to be responsible in all aspects of development.” It said the section entitled “Woman and Development” in the country's Eighth Development Plan “indicates the State's resolve to rapidly improve the progress of Saudi women because their contribution in social development is fundamental. Many Shariah texts have forbidden any unjust practices toward them and any violation of their rights; and to recognize the position they deserve and their contribution in the progress of humankind, in building and construction, and the advancement of civilization.” “The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and other conventions that the Kingdom has signed provide the Saudi woman a secure environment to contribute and prosper,” it said. The HRC said that since King Abdullah ascended to the throne in 2005, women have obtained more rights, privileges and opportunities that have helped them advance while maintaining their identity. “The King had announced women's participation in public life and in the progress of the country since a women delegation took part in his first Asian tour,” the report said. The HRC stated further in its report that it viewed the appearance of Saudi businesswomen at international events as “honorable steps”, noting the participation of eight Saudi businesswomen, along with 40 counterparts from Arab and other Gulf states, at the World Bank Roundtable Talks in Washington. It also noted the visit of a Saudi female delegation to Paris at an invitation from the French embassy in Riyadh, which was supported by Princess Adila Bint Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. The delegation visited a number of government ministries including Justice, Economy, Social Affairs, institutions concerned with children and family, and other institutions such as the French Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Sorbonne. The report said that the support of educational and social institutions for women had directly contributed to their accomplishments locally and internationally. “In recent years, several inventions, innovations and achievements have put Saudi female academics, doctors, and inventors on the map of scientific excellence internationally. It has won them medals at international events. This resulted in a number of excellent educational institutions inviting Saudi women to join their teams or to take part in their research.” The HRC said the King's initiative, to pay special attention to education in general – and to women's education in particular – was reflected in the budgets allocated for it. The recent gains of Saudi women included: participation in National Dialogue through forums and workshops; the decision to increase part-time women members at the Shoura Council from six to 12 members; the appointment of the first woman Deputy Minister of Education for Girls Education; the appointment of a woman as President of Princess Noura Bint Abdulrahman Girls University; the appointment of a woman Assistant Mayor for Information Technology in Jeddah; and the creation of women's sections at the Passports Department, Prisons Department and the Civil Defense. Women are also taking up leading educational positions in the new organizational structure of the Ministry of Education. There has been the appointment of five women deans at the Girls Deanship of Girls Colleges; the graduation of a Law major specialist from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah and King Saud University in Riyadh. They have also participated at the chambers of commerce and industry elections. There has also been the election of women to other bodies including the board of directors of the Saudi Council of Engineers; the Saudi Journalists Association; the Saudi Playwrights Association; and to the position of vice chairwoman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Other milestones include the opening of a women's sections at the Human Rights Commission, and at chambers of commerce which eliminated the need for a representative; the opening of a women's section at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's branch in the Eastern Province; the allocation of 25,000 seats for girls in the country's Foreign Scholarship Program's five stages; the laying down of the foundation stone of the first integrated government university for girls in 2008 (Princess Noura Bint Abdulrahman University); and the establishment of three higher institutions and 12 vocational training institutions for girls. The number of commercial registries owned by Saudi women is now at a total of 40,000 registries in 2009, an increase of 77 percent from 2007.
