“Oman and Zanzibar Strengthen Bilateral Ties: Focus on Economic, Cultural, and Health Cooperation”
Jeddah,
SPA — President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission and head of the Kingdom’s delegation to the International Conference on Women in Islam: Status and Empowerment Dr. Hala Al-Tuwaijri has praised the support lent to women in the Kingdom by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which led to Saudi women being contributors to many local, regional and international achievements.
Speaking at the conference held by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and hosted by the Kingdom in Jeddah, Al-Tuwaijri highlighted the Kingdom’s endeavors to engage Saudi women in the comprehensive development witnessed by all sectors to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Various fields in the Kingdom, Al-Tuwaijri said, have undergone over 50 legislative and executive reforms that contributed to developing the legal framework that promotes and protects women’s rights, and eliminates all forms of discrimination against women.
These reforms, Al-Tuwaijri added, resulted in a 34.7% increase, from 21.2%, in female participation in the labor market from 2017 to 2022, and a 37% increase, from 17%, in the rate of women’s economic participation during the same period.
According to Al-Tuwaijri, the percentage of Saudi women in civil service reached 42% by the end of the third quarter of 2022, 20% of the Shura Council seats are allocated to women representatives, the percentage of women in administrative positions increased from 28.6% in 2017 to 41.1% in 2022, the share of women-owned small and medium enterprises increased from 22.5% in 2017 to 45% in 2022, the rate of women’s participation in the communications and information technology sector increased from 7% in 2017 to 30.5% in 2022, and the percentage of Saudi women-owned commercial registors reached 40% of the commercial registors of existing institutions.
Al-Tuwaijri said that women now can hold positions in the judiciary, security and the military, they are equal to men as members of the Public Prosecution where there are 200 women, 282 women work as administrative staff, 238 are trainees, 8,377 are in security and military agencies, and 9,976 in the Ministry of Interior and its affiliated sectors.
Al-Tuwaijri also said that Muslim women today face challenges, including being deprived of some of their rights in some societies, Islamophobia, and the spread of hate speech.
She pointed out the tragic and inhumane conditions that the patient, struggling Palestinian women are experiencing today, especially in Gaza Strip, due to the war and aggression waged by the Israeli occupation authorities against civilians, the majority of whom are innocent women, children and the elderly.
Al-Tuwaijri expressed hope that the conference will come up with a roadmap for legislative reforms and initiatives aimed at empowering women and providing them with the opportunity to participate in various economic, educational and social fields.
–SPA
