[nasional_list] [ppiindia] Women Make Gains Despite Challenges

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**http://www.arabnews.com/?page=22&section=0&article=75456&d=30&m=12&y=2005

            Friday, 30, December, 2005 (29, Dhul Qa`dah, 1426)


                  Women Make Gains Despite Challenges
                  Maha Akeel 

                 
                  The year 2005 began with a disappointment for Saudi women 
seeking greater roles in society, but it ended on a higher note of optimism for 
the years ahead.

                  At the start of the year, the Kingdom held municipal 
elections for the first time, a new chapter in its modern history. Women, 
however, were denied participation in this historic process for reasons many 
people considered to be invalid. That setback in the road for empowering women 
was corrected by a small but significant victory: Being granted the right to 
run in elections for the boards of directors at chambers of commerce and 
industry. That important reform of the electoral process culminated with two 
businesswomen winning seats in the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

                  Early in the year, women were stricken a blow to their 
ambitions and perceptions of themselves as equal citizens when they were told 
they could not run or vote in the about-to-be-held municipal elections. Some 
women had already nominated themselves and announced their campaign platforms 
before the exclusion was made. Election officials rebuffed these candidates 
even though the regulations do not clearly prohibit women the right to run for 
municipal posts. This was perceived by many Saudis to be a great 
disappointment. The reasons given by the government for excluding women was 
that holding elections was a new experience, that organizers had little time to 
make preparations for women voters. Women were promised participation in the 
2009 municipal elections. Many were annoyed and angered by this snub, 
especially when it was revealed that male prisoners would be allowed the right 
to vote.

                  There was hope that the Ministry of Municipal and Rural 
Affairs, which has retained the right to appoint half of all municipal council 
members, would rectify the lack of participation of women in elections by 
appointing some women to the positions. However, no women were named when the 
final list of members of the 178 municipal councils was released earlier this 
month.

                  In March, the chairman of the 150-member Shoura Council said 
that there were no plans so far to hold elections to pick the members, which 
are currently appointed by the king. The chairman said that women would 
continue to be consulted by the council on matters that concern them. The Arab 
Human Development Report stated in April that Saudi Arabia should exert more 
efforts to integrate women into mainstream Saudi society.

                  Despite the obstacles of social and cultural attitudes, women 
continue plowing ahead and proving themselves, especially in the areas of 
business and the workplace.

                  Over the past three years women have been playing an 
increasingly active and visible role in the annual Jeddah Economic Forum, and 
in 2005 they were front and center in the organization, participating in both 
quality and quantity. Women's influence in the business sector became even more 
apparent when first they were allowed to participate as voters in the elections 
for the board of directors at Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Then, in 
the elections for the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (JCCI) held in 
November, women challenged the status quo by demanding participation as voters 
and candidates. As with the municipal council regulation, nothing specifically 
prohibits women from democratic participation.

                  The Ministry of Commerce conceded and, upon orders from 
above, allowed women to run. Seventeen businesswomen nominated themselves, two 
of them - Lama Al-Sulaiman and Nashwa Taher - won seats and two others - Madawi 
Al-Hassoun and Olfat Qabbani - were appointed by the Ministry of Commerce to 
make a total of four women on the 18-member board of directors. Other 
businesswomen are now running for their local chambers board of directors.

                  "I think permitting women to participate in the chamber's 
elections is a direct result of pressure from women's groups, although not 
officially recognized or organized, after being denied participation in the 
municipal elections," Hatoon Al-Fassi, associate professor of women's history 
at King Saud University in Riyadh, told Arab News. "I think we should not look 
at women's participation in that election as just that but should look at the 
process that allowed them to participate because it has its implications."

                  She said that when the elections for the JCCI board of 
directors began, women were told they could not participate as candidates. When 
they objected, an order came from the Ministry of Commerce to allow them and to 
postpone the election date to accommodate them.

                  "This is a clear signal that a higher political authority 
decided that women must participate and that the leadership had begun to 
respond by intervening and not just relying on society's movement," said 
Al-Fassi.

                  Developing a country's human resources, of both men and 
women, is a key to its advancement and strength. Investing in the education, 
training and creation of job opportunities for Saudi men and women is a 
strategic goal for the Kingdom. With the announcement of opening more education 
fields, training centers and employment sectors for women there is the 
potential for bigger roles for women in the future. Foreign Affairs Minister 
Prince Saud Al-Faisal ordered his ministry to begin employing women. Other 
ministries have made similar proclamations; some have already opened branches 
for women. More public institutions and private companies have opened or 
expanded women's sections in their facilities. However, the question remains 
whether women will be given real authority and equal treatment.

                  "I think most of the high points for women this year were in 
business," said Reem Jarbou, a communications freelancer in Jeddah. "They were 
given more strength in the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) 
and the chambers. Many of the steps to improve the business climate reflected 
favorably on women especially those that were meant to make things easier for 
women. The disabling factors are slowly going away. Also, more and more women 
are participating in international forums, which is great exposure for them. It 
changes many of the biases and stereotypes about them."

                  However, Jarbou points out that the lack of proper education 
at all levels and training for women is still a problem that reflects 
negatively on the Saudization process.

                  "There are efforts at opening more fields of specialization, 
such as law and engineering in private colleges for women, but we continue to 
face cultural problems and attitudes that hinder us," said Jarbou. Public 
universities are also opening new departments for girls, in fields such as law 
and journalism, as more women are demanding, and are needed, in these fields.

                  For her part, Jarbou is not giving up.

                  "We have to put up like our mothers before us. It's up to our 
generation to do our maximum and let the effect trickle down. We cannot just 
accept things as they are," she said.

                  An example of this assertive attitude by women paying-off is 
that of Nadia Bakhurji nominating herself in the election to the Council of 
Saudi Engineers this week and winning a seat. Women were never excluded from 
membership or as candidates for the council's board but it was the first time 
that a woman ran and won.

                  When he was crown prince, King Abdullah said that Saudi women 
have started entering the mainstream of national life and he hoped that social 
attitudes toward them would change for the better in less than five years. 
After becoming king, it was obvious that women would witness a brighter future 
of bigger opportunities and improvements in their status during his reign.

                  This process began with permitting women to run in elections 
of boards of directors in chambers of commerce. Women's empowerment was also a 
major part of the National Vision, as presented at the conclusion of the Fifth 
National Dialogue in December. At the heart of the new five-year budget plan is 
programs and policies to expand employment opportunities and policies that 
empower women.

                  Generally, women's empowerment initiatives are aimed at 
reforming policies and regulations that discriminate against their advancement 
in the economy. In Saudi Arabia, women face restrictions and discrimination in 
controlling resources, in their mobility, in finding jobs, and in promotions 
and salaries. While the government is investing heavily in women's education, 
the return on its investment in the form of jobs is very low. Women represent 
only five percent of the total work force.

                  However, Hatoon Al-Fassi said that there have been positive 
changes since King Abdullah's accession that give indication of better things 
to come.

                  "For the first time women pledged allegiance to the king 
(mubayaa) directly. Two groups of women met with him. They represented not 
certain families but professions, and the meetings were aired on television 
which broke many taboos and was a sign of recognition of women," she said.

                  Other positive changes is the recent response to requests 
from women to deal with the issue of abuse by providing women with shelters and 
forming a family safety committee under the Ministry of Social Affairs.

                  "There has also been more freedom in the press during the 
past year to talk about women's issues such as women's driving and others that 
were considered off-limits," said Hatoon Al-Fassi.

                  There is still a long road ahead for women, especially with 
regards to their rights as human beings.

                  "The main issue for women is that of the guardianship 
practiced by the government, and men over women, that hinders women's education 
and work," said Hatoon Al-Fassi regarding the issues that still need to be 
addressed.

                  Not recognizing women's legal competence as an adult, which 
renders them minors in the eyes of the law and the society, is another 
important issue, according to Hatoon Al-Fassi. Another issue she mentioned is 
not opening more job fields for women despite a decision last year by the 
Council of Ministers to do that.

                  "We need a higher council for women that reports directly to 
the king and that follows on all decisions related to women," she said.

                  Women's ability to move freely and safely is also a critical 
issue, according to Hatoon Al-Fassi.

                  Before the year had ended, Dr. Salwa Al-Hazzaa, head of the 
ophthalmology department at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh and one 
of the women consulted by the Shoura Council, announced that a higher committee 
for women's affairs is going to be established soon.

                  Another major announcement during the past few days is the 
approval by the Ministry of Justice to establish family courts that would be 
considerably woman-friendly. Many women had pointed out to King Abdullah that 
they face prejudices, discomforts and hurdles in the male-dominated courts and 
procedures. A family court would open the door for female lawyers to practice 
their job and better serve their female clients.

                  "Finally, there is the important point that women's role in 
making decisions and at the place of decision-making is not marginal but 
absent. It is men who plan and take decisions," said Hatoon Al-Fassi.

                  These are some of the main concerns and issues that women are 
eager to resolve, once and for all, based on the principles of Islam. Being 
granted the right to run for positions in local chambers of commerce was only 
the first step. Women are looking forward to gaining more rights in 2006.
                 
           
     


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