The struggle for their rights of women in Saudi Arabia

How to organize a woman's life in the state, occupying the 130th place out of 134 in the rankings for the infringement of women's rights.

The life of 15 million female population of Saudi Arabia is subject to weight restrictions, but saudiyki go to the tricks and extreme, to protect their legal position and ensure minimum freedom in the most closed countries in the Muslim world.

Driving

Traditions: In the XXI century the kingdom remains the only place on the planet where there is a ban on driving a vehicle the female sex. Residents of the country, while abroad, do not miss the opportunity to get behind the wheel. But even the presence of an international driving license in their own country does not give them the right to obtain a driver's license.

Changes: In the summer of 2017 a book was published one of the most prominent activists in Saudi Arabia Manal Al-Sharif "Dare to Drive: A young Saudi woman, defying the kingdom of men." Publications preceded last year's nine-day arrest for driving Manal. It does not just sat behind the wheel of the car, but also filmed it on video, and later added a video on YouTube, giving rise to the grandiose acts of disobedience, among other compatriots who followed her example. As she Manal says: "The fight is not to drive a car. It is about to become the driver of their own destiny. "

Participation in outdoor sports activities

Tradition: In the women's schools and universities, sport received little attention, and access to the outdoor sporting events the beautiful half of Saudi society altogether prohibited.

Changes: Only in 2012, Sarah Attar and Vidzhdan Shahardzhani became the first representative of the women's team of the Saudi kingdom at the Olympics in London. They were in such sports as athletics and judo. Although girls sports results were not impressive, their names have gone down in history.

Guardian Consent

Tradition: It seems savage, but a woman in Saudi Arabia alone can not get married or get a divorce, get an education, work and travel. Even to rent a house, open a bank account or to have surgery for medical reasons, according to the regulations of the country, you must first obtain permission mahram - a male guardian.

Changes: Aziz Al-Yusuf - another well-known figure among Saudi women - fighters for their rights. Last year, she took an active part in the movement for the abolition of care on the part of men. Campaign rapidly gathered momentum in the Internet, and more than 14,000 compatriots Aziza signed a petition demanding the abolition of custody rules.

The country's leadership made concessions. Decree of King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud on April 17 of the current, 2017 decided that the guardianship system will finally be reconsidered. According to a royal decree, the government bodies in the three-month period must issue new laws to abolish guardianship and give as a simplified list of procedures under which the consent of the men still needed. How extensive and profound changes are as yet too early to judge.

sex segregation rules

Tradition: In order to assess the severity of the laws in Saudi Arabia, it is sufficient to know that a woman can be punished simply for conversation with a representative of the male, which is not her close relative.

Public places and institutions in the country are divided into male and female zones. Separately are trained in educational institutions, a clear dissociation observed in restaurants, cafes, shops and offices. Even international companies such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, provide separate areas in the country for men and women. Changes: The development of social networks has made it possible to circumvent existing bans and choose a circle at least virtual communication on their own, while exercising some caution. The opening in 2009 of the first joint university for the training of boys and girls gives hope for liberalization of the existing order in communication between the sexes.

One of figurantok list, Forbes, CEO of Olayan Saudi financial companies and well-known activist in the struggle for women's rights Lubna Olaya first started talking about the abolition of sexual segregation, arguing that it needs to construct a developed economy in the country. Although the proportion of the employed female population is 17%, each second working woman has higher education. For comparison: in men, only 16% can boast of a higher education diploma. Women use every opportunity for education, be it distance learning or study abroad, which has become possible since 2008 with the consent of the guardian.

And in May 2017 the daughter of the American president, Ivanka Trump, well-known thanks to the active position in matters of women's employment, held a meeting with Saudi women leaders, noting later in his instagrame: "The need for the empowerment and involvement of women knows no boundaries and cultures. Whether it is in the United States and Saudi Arabia, we must recognize that the empowerment of women is a key factor in the process of economic transformation. "

to get married on their own

Tradition: at least 2005, and brought into the kingdom of the abolition of forced marriages, but the agreement between the father and future husband of the bride still is a must. In such circumstances, when a woman does not participate in the negotiation of their own fate, about any independent choice of a spouse and can be no question. Changes: off the ground moved a little question in 2016. The woman now receives a copy of the marriage contract and the ability to defend their rights, including divorce. I want to believe that this change will not stop in the near future, every woman in Saudi Arabia will be able to choose their life partner, guided only by his own desire and the call of the heart.

The right to early release from prison,

Tradition: In Saudi Arabia, there is a long tradition that the prisoner may release prematurely, if he learned the Koran by heart or receive a pardon from the king on religious or national holidays. However, neither his memory nor at the mercy of the king saudiykam, serving time in prison, can not count. A woman can be released only with the permission of a male guardian, who often insists on the extension.

Changes: The only weapon women in this case - to seek publicity and attract the world's attention to their cause. Sometimes this mechanism is triggered and the long-awaited liberation happens. "I think it is our task - to fight for our civil rights. The authorities are moving in this direction, and spend a lot of reforms, but we ourselves need to develop as civil society, to develop non-profit organizations ", - assured the Princess Amira al-Tawil, an influential saudiyka, Vice-President of the Foundation Alwaleed Philanthropies, repeatedly and publicly speaking to foreign media for the empowering counterparts.

The dress code

Tradition: According to the law, the fair sex can occur in a public place, covering all parts of the body except for the oval face, hands and feet. In 2011, it was ordered to hide from prying eyes of men. Changes: Women would not be women, if it had not sought to establish in his own right to dress according to their own taste and spirit of the times. Following the local style icons saudiyki increasingly hesitant to go beyond the black abaya (traditional long dress), experimenting with colors, shapes and ornaments in her wardrobe. Princess Dina Abdulaziz Al-Saud, thanks to its delicate taste and a skilful combination of eastern and western flavor innovations in its style, is known far outside the country. Dean, in July last year, led Vogue Arabia, has become an inspiring example for a multi-million audience of women's kingdom, and Christian Louboutin even called one of the pairs of shoes in her honor.

custody of their children

Tradition: Family Code - is another point where the female half of the population of Arabia infringed their rights. The legislative framework of the Saudi kingdom suggests that children who have reached seven years of age, are completely in the father's power. During the divorce joint custody of the children can not even think, if the father expresses the wish that the children were with him.

Changes: Through the efforts of women who received in 2011 the right to enter into the Legislative Council in 2013, domestic violence was considered a criminal offense. In the same year, women were officially permitted to work as a lawyer in family matters. Such, though minimal, changes in the direction of increasing women's rights give hope that the legal status of a wife and mother would be more secure in the country. And the fact that the number of divorces in the female initiative has increased in recent years, indicates a greater confidence of women in their abilities and readiness for difficulties associated with the process of divorce and life without her husband.

Witchcraft, magic

Tradition: Islam - the official and the only permitted religion in the state. Moreover, in the "land of the two holy places", in addition to the body exercising supervision over the observance of the norms of Sharia, there is also a special police department for catching "witches". Prohibited any activity on the prediction of the future, divination and spells, witchcraft and magic. And no matter how ridiculous or heard in today's world, the charges, the penalties provided for them are real - from a prison sentence to execution. Since 2009, more than 500 people were detained under these articles. Two saudiek condemned only because they have been found talismans.

Changes: yet.

Life does not stand still, and activist of Saudi Arabia in all ways nearer the day when they can have all the rights and freedoms that are given to each person from birth - regardless of gender and country of residence.