The Saudi permanent mission to the United Nations celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday.
Recent reforms to empower women that have swept through Saudi Arabia were highlighted in a virtual meeting with high-ranking UN officials. Special emphasis was placed on enhancing women’s involvement in making decisions regarding critical matters such as politics, economics and human rights.
Guests at the meeting included Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, the permanent Saudi representative to the UN, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the executive director of UN women; Miguel Moratinos, the UN’s high-representative for the Alliance of Civilizations; Thoraya Obaid, chair of W20, the G20 engagement group that focuses on women’s empowerment and gender equality; Amal Yahya Al-Mouallimi, the Saudi Ambassador to Norway; Hala Altwaijry, Secretary-general of the Family Affairs Council of Saudi Arabia; Hind Al-Zahid, Saudi Deputy Minister of Women’s Empowerment; and Sarah Al-Tamimi, Vice-chair of the Kingdom’s National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking.
Al-Mouallimi pointed out that since launching the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 led by King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi government has “re-examined civil and labor laws and made serious legislative reforms that seek to empower women.”
He emphasized that these reforms led to an increase in gender equality between men and women, “as evidenced by the fact that more women now occupy high-ranking positions in both the public and private sectors.”
Obaid, for her part, believes that the changes that are happening in Saudi Arabia are “developmental; and thus gradual legislative reforms have become the method of implementation.
“Saudi women are now entering the labor market, competing in municipal elections, and are being appointed for membership in the Shura Council,” she said.
“When men support women, there is no limit to what can be achieved.”
Al-Mouallimi emphasized Saudi women’s participation in diplomatic missions and the role of Saudi women in the Kingdom’s international political and diplomatic scenes, stressing that “these recent reforms enabled Saudi Arabia to participate in higher-level international platforms.”
Altwaijry pointed out that “Saudi women have held many leadership and key positions, including positions in the United Nations programs, the World Health Organization, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.”
“The diplomatic field witnessed a 150 percent increase in Saudi Women’s participation.”
She went on to say that Saudi women should be proud of what they have achieved and of going from humble beginnings to representing Saudi Arabia on diplomatic missions.
