Saudi Gazette report

GENEVA — Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) President Dr. Hala bint Mazyed Al-Tuwaijri said that Saudi Arabia has enacted over 50 reforms aimed to boost women's rights, and that is in line with the Kingdom's deep-rooted values and culture.

Delivering Saudi Arabia's opening statement at the 89th session of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in Geneva on Wednesday, she emphasized that empowering women is crucial to empowering society, as it is a fundamental human right.

Al-Tuwaijri highlighted that empowering women has been a goal of the National Transformation Program, a part of Vision 2030, and that legislative reforms for women have been made possible as a result.

Referring to the myriad reforms launched by Saudi Arabia with regard to women's rights, she said: "Some of the prominent reforms include amending the travel documents and Civil Status systems to achieve gender equality, amending the social insurance system for a retirement age of 60 years for both genders, and amendments to the Labor Law that enhanced equality between men and women in rights, duties, and terms of service."

Other reforms include the issuance of the Anti-Harassment Crime Law; improving women's right to education, health, and social protection; and expanding the participation of women in the judicial, legal, military, security, sports, and cultural fields, she said.

Al-Tuwaijri stated that this positive systematic change and the historic reforms and developments in protecting women's rights would not have been achieved without the political will embodied in the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the Crown Prince, and the awareness of Saudi society.

The HRC chief said that the Kingdom has witnessed overall development in the legal system, including the legal framework for women's rights, with many laws and legislation being amended and issued to ensure gender equality, equal opportunities, and enhanced women's empowerment.

Dr. Al-Tuwaijri affirmed the Kingdom's continued progress in fulfilling its obligations under the human-rights conventions to which it has become a party, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. "Saudi Arabia's special report was submitted in accordance with Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women," she added.