Words such as “oil,” “politics,” “royalty” and “power” often come to mind when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is in the news. However, since new leadership took the throne in January 2015, more attention is focused on the new king’s ability to redefine human rights policy in the country. The recent power shift in Saudi Arabia from the late King Abdullah to King Salman calls attention to the previous ruler’s method of addressing women’s issues and gender inequality and the new ruler’s ability to respond to these concerns. The successes and failures of past policies should inform the new king on how to improve conditions for women.
Under King Abdullah’s rule, Saudi Arabia’s political arena evolved to allow greater freedom of the media and greater fairness in the judicial process. With regard to women’s rights, he implemented advances in the form of new employment sector openings, job access opportunities for females, and increased political representation. There were three major advances under King Abdullah that highlighted improvement in women’s political participation in the kingdom. The first of these advances occurred in September 2011 when women were granted the right to vote. As a result, Saudi women are now able to fully participate in municipal elections, with the possibility of running as candidates in the next election cycle. The second advancement was the appointment of a woman as deputy minister, an elite government position. The third major advance was the appointment of 30 women to the Shura Council, a legislative body that drafts laws and advises the king. These changes, which allow women to be much more active in the political process, demonstrated an investment in the development of political rights during Abdullah’s time as king. To a Western audience, these improvements may seem trivial, but for women in Saudi Arabia, slight increases in political rights are major reforms.
The advances made during King Abdullah’s reign still have room for improvement in comparison with other Gulf countries. The new King Salman’s reign has the potential to make further progress for women’s rights, especially through the elimination of the male guardianship laws and the development of a written penal code. The current guardianship laws prevent Saudi women from traveling, working or enrolling in school without the permission of a male guardian such as a father, brother or uncle. These laws codify and reinforce patriarchal values and harm the ability of women to gain equal status. Additionally, the creation of a written penal code with an enforceable and comprehensive human rights protection plan would be beneficial for the country, particularly in relation to women’s rights.
Another reform measure that would substantially improve conditions for women is the reversal of the driving ban. Saudi women have already made a public push for this reform during various protest movements over the past few years. One such protest took place on Oct. 26, 2012, when Saudi women took part in a public campaign by recording videos of themselves driving on the main roads, directly breaking the law’s restrictions. Women in the region are still worried that King Salman’s rule will take steps backward from what little progress was made under the previous ruler.
Diplomatic relations with Western countries can also play a role in progressing women’s rights. Although oil dominates Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the West, Western countries should prioritize human rights improvements as a necessity to continue economic relations with the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has minimal incentive to protect human rights unless its political and economic allies take measures to address gender inequality and other pressing issues.
Looking ahead, the reforms under King Abdullah that included an expansion of women’s political and economic rights can be expected to continue. However, King Salman’s actions thus far do not reflect substantial possibilities for the complete overturn of guardianship laws or women’s driving prohibition — the push for these reforms may need to come from Saudi Arabia’s relationships with Western countries.
Neethi Nayak is an intern for the Women’s Rights in the Middle East Program at the Baker Institute. She is a sophomore at Rice University majoring in policy studies and sociology.