Historical Context
Saudi Arabia is an Islamic theocracy governed by Sharia law. Women have limited rights compared to men – for example, they are, legally, not allowed to drive, own businesses, or gain access to public facilities without the presence of a male guardian. They also cannot travel abroad without the permission of a male guardian. For centuries, the country has been known for its social conservatism, and the situation has long been in place. This policy has made it difficult for women to exercise their right to free travel and mobility within and outside of the country.
Statistics
According to the World Bank, Saudi Arabia has the world’s highest rate of gender segregation, with only 17.7% of the total labour force made up of women. Women account for only 4.4% of the workforce in the private sector and only 22% of the total population. According to the UN Women organisation, Saudi Arabia has the worst gender gap when it comes to the right to travel freely; however, the situation is changing. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has introduced reforms which have allowed women to travel without a male guardian’s permission.
Women’s Experiences
Women still face difficulties in travelling around the country. A lack of infrastructure and public transport makes travelling difficult for women, and they are also often subjected to harassment or other forms of discrimination. Moreover, women are often forced to provide proof that they are in fact travelling on their own if they do not have a male guardian with them. The situation is slowly improving, however, and there are now more economic opportunities for women, as well as more infrastructure. Nonetheless, women still face barriers in terms of mobility and freedom of movement.
Expert Perspectives
The Canadian Council for International Co-operation’s director of policies, Sarah Turri, believes that “the impact of Saudi Arabia’s restrictive policies on women’s rights to travel, work, drive, and access public services must be addressed.” She added that “it is important to recognise that the situation is improving, but progress still needs to be made.”
Human Rights activist and lawyer, Manal al-Sharif, meanwhile believes that “this policy prevents women from fully enjoying their right to freedom of movement.” She added that “it is crucial that women are treated equally to men when it comes to mobility, and that the government take steps to ensure that women are not restricted from travelling freely around Saudi Arabia.”
International Strategies
The United Nations has launched several initiatives aimed at eliminating gender inequality worldwide. One of these initiatives is the UN Women’s HeForShe campaign, which works with governments, civil society, and business to advance gender equality and women’s rights. The campaign also works to empower women in the workforce and promote women’s economic and social rights. The UN is also working to ensure that young girls have access to quality education and health care in order to empower them.
Global Reactions
Global reactions to Saudi Arabia’s policy have been largely negative. Human rights lawyer and campaigner, Jacky Sutton, calls the restriction a “barrier” to women’s progress. He also believes that “while the government has taken some positive steps, more needs to be done.”
Other human rights groups have also criticised the policy. Amnesty International calls it “deeply discriminatory” and says that “women should not be subjected to such restrictions on their right to travel,” adding that “women in Saudi Arabia should have the same right as men to access public transport and travel freely without discrimination.”
Political Resistance
Women in Saudi Arabia are increasingly demanding their right to travel freely. In 2018, women activists protested against the law, calling it “discriminatory” and demanding the repeal of the guardianship regulation. This movement has been gaining ground, with more and more women pushing for equal rights to travel.
The government is also making strides to reform the policy. In 2018, the government issued a decree allowing Saudi women to apply for passports and travel without male guardian permission. However, this decree has yet to be implemented.
Analyzing the Issue
It is clear that there is still a long way to go before women can fully exercise their right to travel freely in Saudi Arabia. The situation is, however, improving, and there is hope that, by working together, both the government and citizens can overcome the barriers restricting women’s rights.
To achieve gender equality, it is important that the government takes further steps to empower women through initiatives such as education and equal representation in the workforce. Similarly, it is crucial that the culture of discrimination and subjugation towards women be challenged. Only then will women will be truly free to travel and exercise their right to mobility without fear or prejudice.
Changing Social Norms
Despite the changes that have been made, there is still a long way to go in terms of deeply engrained attitudes towards women’s freedom of movement in Saudi Arabia. It is, therefore, important that the government works to raise awareness and encourage a change in social norms.
Organisations such as the UN Women’s HeForShe campaign are working to highlight the importance of gender equality and to challenge gender stereotypes. This is an important step towards eliminating discrimination against women and empowering them to exercise their right to freedom of movement without fear or judgement.
Modern Solutions
In terms of infrastructure and transportation, the government is taking steps to improve the situation. For example, the Saudi government has launched initiatives to improve public transportation and has unveiled plans for more high-speed rail links between cities. Additionally, the government has implemented policies aimed at boosting the economic participation of women.
Although there is still work to be done, these initiatives are helping to create a more conducive environment for women. Ultimately, these changes are helping to ensure that women can travel without fear or prejudice and participate in all aspects of society.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the recent reforms and initiatives, there are still cultural barriers that need to be addressed. Women in Saudi Arabia are still restricted in terms of travel and mobility, and the situation needs to be tackled and addressed if gender equality is to be achieved.
Organisations such as UN Women are working to promote gender equality and to ensure that women have access to the same rights as men when it comes to travel and mobility. It is important that governments and citizens alike continue to work together to create a more equitable society for all.
