Women hold high status in Kingdom: Rights panel

RIYADH: Women enjoy a high status in the Kingdom and are continuing to contribute to society in a considerable way but efforts should be made to further push their cause, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has stated in its report.
The HRC, in cooperation with a number of entities, has prepared a detailed report on women’s status in the Kingdom, which includes suggestions related to their health, education and social issues.
The HRC has also underlined the need to further promote women’s participation in the public sphere in the Kingdom in a manner that conforms to the Shariah norms.
Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Yahya, general supervisor for public works at the HRC, said a royal decree was issued two years ago to study women’s status and claims and rumors about it outside the Kingdom.
He said that many issues and regulations were reviewed during a two-year study, which concluded that there are many false rumors about the Kingdom, even as many solutions for negative practices were suggested.
Al-Yahya said that during the past decade, women have made huge strides such as entering the Shoura Council as full members and acquiring professional and academic skills. “We now have more than 160,000 scholarship students (both male and female). Women have the chance to participate in municipal councils as voters and candidates,” he said.
“Women’s forums offer lectures and seminars to educate women about their rights in municipal councils.”
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has stressed on human rights that guarantee equality and justice for everyone and said the Kingdom is committed to achieving human rights for everyone regardless of color, origin and gender.
The king underlined the role of establishments interested in human rights and confirmed the fact that the government is a sponsor of human rights according to the Shariah.
Al-Yahya said talks are under way on a system with special focus on the rights of women and children, besides the disabled and sick.
“Each human being has rights and duties, but in the rights field we try to focus on the vulnerable such as prisoners and inmates of welfare centers, the elderly, people with disabilities and women,” Al-Yahya said.
He said the HRC focuses on local as well as international issues.
The domestic side has many branches such as supervising the performance of government apparatuses in implementing regulations, whether by monitoring the performance of welfare houses, prisons or other relevant bodies, and following up on cases that interest Saudi citizens such as women and children with disabilities, Al-Yahya added.