Policy of non-discrimination against women
Saudi Arabia's laws, derived from Islamic Shariah, adopt the principle of complementary equality between men and women, which takes into account the different characteristics of both sexes, and ultimately achieve justice. The Kingdom believes that an integrated relation between the two sexes is an ideal way to promote and protect human rights, including women's rights and eliminate discrimination against women. It should be noted that the definition of the term "discrimination against women" stated in Article (1) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is consistent with the practices in force in the Kingdom. The Kingdom's laws do not provide for any distinction, exclusion or restriction resulting in impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields.
Policy of non-discrimination against women
The principle of equality, which is essentially in contrast to discrimination, including discrimination against women, which is set out in Article (8) of the Basic Law of Governance, stipulating: "The system of government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is established on the foundation of justice, Shura (consultation) and equality in compliance with Islamic Shariah" and which is implicitly contained in Article (26) of the same Law which stipulates: "The State shall protect human rights in accordance with Islamic Shariah" in addition to other principles and provisions of the Basic Law of Governance and the Kingdom's laws derived from it – is consistent with the relevant international standards. These provisions criminalize discrimination and violence against women and are implemented by institutions established or supported for the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights, including women's rights, such as the Human Rights Commission, the National Society for Human Rights and other institutions, as well as the existing government agencies.
It should be noted that absolute equality between men and women is observed in most areas of human rights such as the right to work, education, health, economic rights and others.
Regarding equality between men and women and the fight against discrimination in employment, the Labor Law does not differentiate between men and women in rights and duties, nor does it draw any distinction in equal pay for work of equal value and quality. The Kingdom is a party to the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 100 concerning Equal Remuneration for Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value and Convention No. 111 concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation. The Ministerial Decision no. 2370/1, dated 18/8/1431H, corresponding to 28/08/2010, was issued to prohibit any discrimination in wages between male and female workers for work of equal value. There is full equality between men and women as regards the jobseeker's allowance, where women receive the same amount as men, as well as in the training and employment assistance provided by the Human Resources Development Fund to men and women employed in the private sector, both in terms of the amount of subsidy for training costs, wages or duration of assistance. The Labor Law has taken into account the nature of women and has assigned a full section to them (Part 9), which includes additional provisions relating to women's employment in the private sector so as to provide further protection to them.
The Labor Law was amended by Royal Decree No. (M/134), dated 27/11/1440H, to ensure equality between men and women in rights and duties, and in-service conditions. Article (3) of the Labor Law states that work is the right of every citizen and that people must not be discriminated against on the basis of sex, as well as equality in the retirement age between men and women (60 years). The amendments also entailed prohibiting the dismissal or dismissal with a notice of a female worker during her pregnancy, maternity leave or during illness resulting from either pregnancy or delivery. Likewise, the Social Insurance Law has been amended, particularly Article (38), in order to achieve equality between men and women in terms of the retirement age, which has become (60) years for both sexes.
Protecting human rights of both genders same rights and duties as employees (equal pay for work of equal value and quality)
1. Human Rights Unit
Its main tasks are:
Conducting studies and research in various fields of human rights.
Highlighting the concept of human rights in Islam.
Review agreements, decisions, treaties and charters related to human rights.
Organizing conferences and scientific seminars specialized in human rights issues, and participating in regional and international conferences in this field.
Issuing books related to various human rights and educating communities about them.
Coordination with institutes and centers specialized in the field of human rights around the world.
Preparing studies and research on women's issues and rights in Islam.
2. Human Rights Educational Portal
The Human Rights Education Portal (Watani protects my rights) is a partnership project between the Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Education. It was inaugurated on December 24, 2017.
The educational portal aims to acquaint students of public education with a culture of human rights, and to inform them properly about them, so that they can know their rights, and how to deal with them, and to understand the extent to which their country offers them in the field of human rights.
This educational platform is easy to use and a variety of resources where the browser can access a number of local, regional and global references and documents in the field of human rights, and knowledge of human rights bodies locally and internationally, and the importance of human rights in Islam.
This portal seeks to spread human rights culture within Saudi public schools in an interactive way, and contribute to raising the awareness of students in all schools in the Kingdom of human rights culture through a number of modern educational media that promote this concept, and develop them according to their different levels of development. The portal, with the slogan “National protects my rights”, focused on highlighting the Kingdom's efforts in the field of human rights education, introducing students to these efforts, raising awareness and spreading the culture of human rights in the educational community, in addition to stimulating the members of the educational system to adopt a culture of human rights. It also promotes human rights concepts and applications at all levels of education.
3. Human Rights
Since its unification by the founding king, King Abdul-Aziz - may God have mercy on him - the state has ensured that the human being, whether citizen or resident, adult or child, is protected. In the system of government, Article (8), “Governance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is based on justice, consultation, and equality, in accordance with Islamic law,” and Article (26) thereof, which states: “The state protects human rights in accordance with Islamic law.”
Within the Basic Law of Governance are basic principles and provisions aimed at protecting and promoting human rights. These principles and provisions in their entirety represent the legal framework for human rights, and the system has affirmed a number of basic rights, including: the right to justice, equality, security and respect for private property. Other regulations such as labor, health, education, social security and other laws and regulations included detailed provisions for the principles contained in the Basic Law of Governance.
4. Human Rights Commission
Human Rights Commission was established by the decision of the Council of Ministers to be a government agency directly related to the king concerned with the protection and promotion of human rights in accordance with international standards in light of the provisions of Islamic law. Its organization has granted it broad powers that allow it to perform its duties independently and freely, and among the most prominent of these powers are the following:
Ensuring that the concerned government agencies implement the applicable laws and regulations regarding human rights, uncover abuses that constitute a violation of human rights, and take the necessary legal measures in this regard.
Expressing opinion on draft regulations related to human rights.
Following up to government agencies to implement the relevant international human rights rules to which the Kingdom has joined, and to ensure that those authorities take the necessary measures to implement them.
Visiting prisons and detention centers at any time without permission from the competent authority and submitting reports on them to the Prime Minister.
Receiving complaints related to human rights, verifying their validity, and taking legal action regarding them.
Establishing the general policy for developing awareness of human rights.
It should be noted that the commission submitted its (first) report on the human rights situation in the Kingdom, which included the observations it had monitored related to the implementation by government agencies of the kingdom’s obligations under international human rights standards, and the complaints it had received in this regard, especially with regard to prisoners and the detainees. This is added to the right to resort to justice and equality, to protection from abuse and torture, to ensure physical integrity, the right to reputation and dignity, the right to freedom of movement, issues of nationality and residence, and other basic rights, in addition to what is related to the right to work and social care, health care, protection from family violence, and other economic, social and cultural rights, in addition to all that is related to the rights of special groups, including women, children, people with disabilities and the elderly.
5. Permanent Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons Crimes
The committee was formed according to a cabinet decision headed by His Excellency the President of the Human Rights Commission, and its membership includes representatives from the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Social Affairs, Labor, Culture and Information, and the Investigation and Public Prosecution Commission. This committee is considered one of the most important national entities for implementing the “anti-trafficking in persons ". it is concerned with various missions as follows:
Following up with victims' conditions to ensure they are not abused again.
Establishing a policy that urges the active search for victims and training law enforcement personnel on means of identifying them.
Coordination with the competent authorities to return the victim to his original home in the country of his or her nationality or to his or her place of residence in any other country whenever requested.
Recommending that the victim remain in the kingdom and adjusting his or her statutory status to enable him or her to work if necessary.
6. National Society for Human Rights
It is a national, non-governmental institution that has no affiliation with any government entity. It enjoys complete independence in all its affairs. It is concerned with protecting, promoting and defending human rights, whether a citizen, resident or visitor, and deals with government agencies, non-governmental and international organizations in a way that achieves the goals they set according to its basic system.
Among its most main missions:
Ensuring that what is stated in the Basic Law of Governance and in the Kingdom's internal regulations related to human rights is implemented.
Ensuring that the Kingdom fulfills its obligations regarding human rights issues, in accordance with international and regional human rights standards.
Receiving complaints and follow up with the competent authorities, and investigating claims of human rights violations and abuses.
The association is represented by academic members and specialists in various fields related to human rights, both men and women. It issues annual reports dealing with the human rights situation in the Kingdom. The most recent of which is its third report on the human rights situation in the Kingdom under the title “Ambition of a leadership and poor performance of agencies.”
7. The University Vice Presidency for Female Student Affairs and the College of Science hold a meeting on the occasion of International Women's Day in the Field of Science
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day in the Field of Science, which falls on Thursday the eleventh of February, the University Vice Presidency for Female Student Affairs, in cooperation with the College of Science, held a meeting entitled “Women in the Field of Science.” Searching for outputs that meet the requirements of the labor market.
The meeting began with a speech by the Vice Dean of the College of Sciences, Dr. Eida bint Suleiman Al Farraj, in which she thanked the wise leadership for the support received by Saudi women in all fields, and commended the university’s efforts to enhance the capabilities of the academic staff and motivate them to publish scientifically as the criterion for measuring the progress of universities.
After that, a dialogue session was launched in which Dr. Ibtisam Al-Dawish, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, Dr. Nawal Madkhali, associate professor in the Department of Physics, and Prof. Amal Al-Anazi, in which they dealt with several topics, most notably the participation of women in the field of science and its research in the college, the awards and criteria of the Global Publishing Program, and the encouragement of graduate students to scientific publishing and research partnerships. The meeting concluded by talking about the extent to which the outputs of the College of Science meet the requirements of the labor market, which was demonstrated by the amount of polarization that the college graduates of both sexes received from the leading scientific authorities such as King Abdulaziz City, King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, SABIC, in addition to research centers and local universities. other.
The meeting, which was held remotely, received great attention, as the number of registered students exceeded 130, and the attendance rate of female students reached 90%. The cooperative that was completed with the College of Science, which achieved honorable numbers in its research and human outputs.
8. The center for the study of students organizes women's events for the international conference on justice and arbitration
The higher institute of justice (international conference on justice and arbitration) organized on sunday and monday, 28-29 dhul-hajjah 1436 ah, under the auspices of the minister of education dr. azzam al-dakhil.
The conference is of great importance as it focuses on the role of justice and arbitration in establishing the rules of justice and equality among members of society, and is an opportunity for consultation, interaction, exchange of opinions and experiences among specialists to reach recommendations that serve the scientific and professional movement in society.
The student study center, represented by the department of public relations, organized the women's events of the conference, which were held in the support hall of the conference building.
The Abuse Protection System
The system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stipulated protection from harm of all kinds, providing the necessary assistance and treatment, as well as shelter, social and psychological care for its victims, taking the necessary legal measures to hold the perpetrator accountable and punishing him or her. This is in addition to spreading awareness among community members about the concept of victimization and its implications, and addressing behavioral phenomena in society, which predict the existence of an appropriate environment for the occurrence of cases of abuse. The system has also required everyone who has heard of a case of abuse to report it immediately to the competent security or health authorities or private authorities, and set a special provision requiring every civil or military public employee and every worker in the private sector to know a case of abuse - By virtue of his work - informing his employer of the case upon his knowledge of it, and his side shall inform the competent authority or the police of the case of abuse immediately upon knowledge of it. The system also emphasized that it is impermissible to disclose the identity of the person reporting a case of abuse without his or her consent, or in the cases specified by the executive regulations of the system.
To view more on The Abuse Protection System Click here
Equality, Non-discrimination
The Kingdom's laws require all State agencies to do justice to a person, regardless of his or her religion, race, gender, or nationality. In the event that any of these entities or their representative breaches the realization of one of the rights, whoever violates the right has recourse to any of the following entities:
Judicial authorities.
Relevant government departments.
Governmental and non-governmental human rights institutions.
District governors (administrative governors).
The King’s Council and the Crown Prince’s Council.
Women’s Rights
The State worked to preserve all women's rights, and issued decisions and orders related to that, most notably:
Not to require the woman to obtain the approval of the guardian when providing services to her or to complete the procedures related to her, unless there is a legal basis for this request.
The government agencies take the necessary measures to facilitate the provision of appropriate transportation for the entity’s female employees, according to the available capabilities, with an emphasis on the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to oblige employers to provide transportation means for women workers in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Law.
Supporting the Human Rights Commission - in coordination with the concerned government agencies - to develop the necessary programs to introduce the international conventions to which the Kingdom has joined, by setting up a comprehensive plan to raise awareness of women’s rights through the media and educational and training institutions, and this should include the provisions it has made in those agreements, and the nature of the Kingdom's obligations in these agreements.
Emphasis on all government agencies that provide services to women by publishing the instructions and applicable procedures for those services on their official sites.
Allowing women to drive and approving the application of the provisions of the Traffic Law and its implementing regulations - including the issuance of driving licenses - to both males and females.
For more on Women's Rights Click here
Gender equality
The systems of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, derived from Islamic law, adopt the principle of complementary equality between men and women, that take into account the characteristics of each gender, by which they differ from the other. This shall ultimately achieve justice. The Kingdom believes that the integrative relationship between both genders is an ideal way to promote and protect human rights including women's rights and the elimination of discrimination against them. It should be noted that the definition of the term “discrimination against women” contained in Article (1) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is consistent with what is in force in the Kingdom, as the Kingdom’s laws do not include any discrimination, exclusion or restriction that result in undermining the recognition of women’s human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields.
The principle of equality, which is fundamentally the opposite of discrimination, including discrimination against women, and contained in Article (8) of the Basic Law of Governance, which stipulates that “Governance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall be based on justice, consultation, and equality, in accordance with Islamic Sharia.” - implicitly - in Article (26) of the law which stipulates that “the State shall protect human rights in accordance with Islamic law,” and other principles and provisions contained in the Basic Law of Governance, and the kingdom’s regulations emanating from it are in line with relevant international standards, and that these provisions criminalize discrimination and violence against women. It is concerned with the activation of institutions that have been created or supported in their establishment for the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights, including the rights of women, such as the Human Rights Commission, the National Society for Human Rights and other institutions, in addition to the existing government agencies.
It should be noted that most areas of human rights have absolute equality between men and women, such as the rights to work, education, health, economic rights and others.
To submit complaint on human rights issue Click Here
Gender Equality and combating discrimination in the workplace
The labor system does not differentiate between women and men in rights and duties. Likewise, there is no discrimination in wages when the value and quality of work is equal. The Kingdom is one of the countries joining the International Labor Organization Convention No. (100) concerning the equality of men and women workers of equal value, and Convention No. (111) Concerning discrimination in employment and occupation. The Ministerial Resolution No. 2370/1 was issued on 9/18/1431 AH corresponding to 08/28/2010 AD, emphasized the prohibition of all wage discrimination between male and female workers for work of equal value.
We also find that there is complete equality between men and women in the search for work subsidy, whereby women receive the same amount of aid that men receive, as well as with regard to the training and employment support provided by the Human Resources Development Fund to those who are employed - women and men - in the private sector, whether in terms of the amount of support for training costs, remuneration, or duration of support. The labor system has also been amended to ensure equality between men and women in rights, duties, and conditions of service, as it was emphasized that work is a right for citizens. Discrimination on the basis of gender is not permissible. Added to that, the equality in the retirement age between men and women, which is (60) years old. The amendments also included confirmation banning on dismissing the worker or warning her of dismissal while she is pregnant or enjoying maternity leave. This includes the period of her illness arising from either of them. The social insurance system has also been amended.
To report a violation of labor regulations (Ma3an Rasd)- Click Here
Equality in the various fields
Equality in education
The laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia guarantee all citizens the right to education free of charge without any discrimination. Article 30 of the Basic Law of Governance stipulates that "the State provides public education and is committed to combating illiteracy." The Kingdom's belief is in the importance of the role of education in achieving sustainable development and realizing human rights. Many efforts have been taken to provide education and combat illiteracy on the basis of gender equality.
In this regard, it is important to note that the educational system in the Kingdom is fundamentally based on equality between men and women in all its aspects, whether it is related to admission and enrollment processes, or with regard to curricula, exams, or what is related to the qualifications of teachers and lecturers, as well as the quality of educational facilities and equipment. Indeed, women have received more attention in this aspect, such as positive discrimination, especially with the continued establishment of a number of university cities for girls, such as Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University, and university cities affiliated with Imam Muhammad bin Saud University and King Saud University.
With regard to literacy programs, the Kingdom has paid special attention to this field, in line with its aspirations set out in successive development plans with regard to reducing the rate of illiteracy among women through legislative and non-legislative measures and activating those measures, most notably the implementation of the decision on compulsory education and the establishment of a government administration for adult education. It is concerned with preparing adult education plans and programs, and expanding the spread of general education schools in remote villages. This is in addition to the opening of literacy centers in women's reformatories, homes for girls, homes for the elderly women, charities and societies for memorizing the Holy Quran. The Ministry of Education has launched a number of flexible programs aimed at reaching the target females in their places, such as the Society Without Illiteracy Program, the City Without Illiteracy Program, and the (Alnoor Caravans) project, which uses technology in teaching through mobile cars equipped as classes with computers that travel in villages to eradicate illiteracy and educate rural women. The Learned Neighborhood Program, and the Summer Campaigns Project for Awareness and Literacy are projects that provide financial rewards to the beneficiaries to encourage them, and support services, such as school supplies, transportation and others.
Equality in grants and subsidies
The existing programs are based on providing educational and training opportunities for both genders on an equal footing, and in accordance with the same legal requirements related to the admission procedures. The percentage of scholarships directed to females has increased significantly, whether in relation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' foreign scholarship program, or with regard to internal scholarships in Saudi universities. The number of female students studying abroad in 2015 reached (34,674) students, an increase of (27%) compared to their numbers in 2008, which reached (8128) students in that year. The number of female graduates in the scholarship countries in 2015 reached (3720) female students, an increase of (28%) compared to their number in 2008, which reached that year (201) female students.
Equality in health services
Article 31 of the Basic Law of Governance affirmed the right to receive health care for both men and women, as it stipulated: “The State cares for public health and provides health care for every citizen and his family in cases of emergency, illness, disability and old age.” In this regard, it must be noted that this right is one of the basic rights associated with every person. All of the Kingdom's regulations and procedures in force in the health field guarantee the empowerment of women to receive health care, and there is no restrictive condition for exercising this right. This right is guaranteed to resident foreign women in the Kingdom, through the cooperative health insurance system, and other related systems. Indeed, the regulations in force in the Kingdom oblige government hospitals to provide the necessary health services for an emergency, regardless of their gender or statutory status.
Critical health cases are also received in the emergency departments of governmental and private hospitals, regardless of any consideration beyond the present case. As for the regular health cases for regular residents, they are governed by the cooperative health insurance system, which aims to provide and regulate health care for all residents in the Kingdom. It is worth noting that the expatriates ’commitment to the residency and work systems enables the concerned authorities to provide and protect their rights, including the right to health.
Equality, Non-Discrimination
42. Saudi Arabia derives all its laws from the Islamic Sharia, which enjoins justice and equality and forbids oppression and discrimination of all forms. Accordingly, the Saudi government has made justice and equality the foundation for governance, as stipulated in article 8 of the Basic Law of Governance. Consequently, all laws of the Kingdom relating to human rights are based on the principle of equality, by which justice is achieved, and the prohibition of all forms of unfair discrimination, including discrimination against women. Moreover, all State agencies must treat people without discrimination in respect of religion, ethnicity, sex or nationality. The following mechanisms provide effective guarantees of human rights according to legal procedures if any right is violated by any entity or person:
The judicial authorities.
The relevant government departments and committees.
Government and non-governmental human rights organizations.
43. The courts of the King and Crown Prince are counted among the legally established mechanisms providing remedies established by law, whereby article 43 of the Basic Law of Governance states, “The court of the King and of the Crown Prince shall be accessible to every citizen and to any person who has a complaint or CEDAW/C/SAU/3-4 16-16951 19/56 a grievance. Every individual shall have the right to address the public authorities in matters of concern to him”. The regional emirs (administrative rulers) also play an effective role in strengthening and protecting human rights and suppressing violations. The Law of Regions promulgated by Royal Order No. A/92 of 27/8/1412 A.H. (02/03/1992), article 7 (c) states that the regional emirs must guarantee the rights and freedoms of individuals and refrain from any action that would infringe such rights and freedoms except within the limits provided by the Sharia and the law.
Laws and regulations issued in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia guaranteed women their rights, and took into account their status and circumstances, including:
A woman has the right to cover herself or leave the house designated for inspection if she is not accused, and to be granted by the necessary facilities.
If the accused woman is alone in the house designated for inspection, it is required by law to have a woman in the inspection team.
Executive imprisonment is not permissible for a woman if she is pregnant or has a child under the age of two.
The regulations stipulated that women must be granted their rights from inheritance and succession, especially real estate.
A woman’s silence about her right to inherit does not mean that her right to inheritance will be forfeited if she asks for it.
The Personal Status Courts consider marriage requests for those who do not have a guardian, and for those who have guardians, but their guardians prevent her from getting married.
Preventing a woman from marriage is prohibited, as well as Forcing a woman to marry someone whom she does not agree. “Alshighar”, which is the agreement of two men to marry the women under their guardianship, is prohibited, too.
Forcing a woman to marry someone whom she does not agree to, and forbidding her from marrying someone who meets the recognized conditions, is impermissible and forbidden according to Shari'a.
Forcing a woman to marry someone whom she does not agree to is one of the pre-Islamic customs, and whoever insists on that, he will be punished with imprisonment and a bail should be paid.
The waiting period for a woman whose marriage has been annulled begins from the date of the ruling, not from the date of ratification by the Court of Cassation.
Compulsory implementation of the judgments issued related to child custody and personal status, even if this leads to the assistance of the competent force (the police).
If the defendant did not appear in marital matters, custody, alimony, visitation, and guardians who prevent the woman from marriage, the court may order to bring him compulsory.
Whoever refuses to implement a ruling issued in custody, state, or visit, shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months.
The judgment issued against the wife to return to the marital home shall not be enforced.
Expedited implementation of judgments issued in favor of women in some cases, such as alimony, nursing or housing fees, seeing a young child, or handing him over to his incubator.
In matrimonial matters, custody, alimony and prevent marriage, a woman has the right to file a lawsuit in the court where she lives, and the defendant is required to attend the court.
When registering her agency, it is not necessary to be for a related man (mahram).
The judiciary issues two-time orders in favor of the woman, which shall be enforceable, in cases that the court deems to urgently remove the damage from her until the conclusion of her case.
Giving the guardianship for a mother over her young children in the event of the death or loss of their father.
Issuing two copies of the marriage contract, one for the husband and the other for the wife, in order to preserve her rights and conditions therein
Equality in Workplaces and Wages
To stop discrimination in the framework of work, the labor law has established a number of rights and duties on an equal footing between men and women, such as equal pay in the event of equal value and quality of work, and full equality in the search for work aid, and in training programs to obtain work. You can read more about Chapter Nine of the Labor Law, which provides articles for the employment of women under the labor law.
Individuals, organizations, institutions and others have the right to submit a report or complaint on violating labor law matters.
Equality in education and training
The laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia guarantee to all citizens the right of free education without any discrimination, and in its belief in the importance of the role of education in achieving sustainable development and the realization of human rights, as:
The law stipulates the necessity of “the state's provision of public education and a commitment to combating illiteracy.
The general education policy emphasized the free education of all its forms and stages, and affirmed linking education in all stages with the state's general development plan that aims to achieve a healthy partnership between men and women.
It is important to note that the educational system in the Kingdom is basically based on equality between men and women in all its aspects, whether it is related to admission and enrollment mechanisms, or with regard to curricula, exams, or what is related to the qualifications of teachers and lecturers, or in Quality of study facilities and equipment. Rather, women have received more attention in this aspect such as positive discrimination, especially with the continued establishment of a number of university cities for girls, such as Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University, and the university cities of Imam Muhammad bin Saud University and King Saud University.
You can also view legislation and decisions related to women's rights to education and training via the link.
Equality in grants and subsidies
Programs provide educational and training opportunities for both sexes equally, and in accordance with the same legal requirements related to admission procedures, and the percentage of scholarships directed to females has increased significantly, both in relation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' foreign scholarship program, or in relation to internal scholarships in Saudi universities.
Equality in healthcare
The Law affirms the right of men and women to receive healthcare, as it stipulates: “The state cares for public health and provides health care for every citizen and his family in cases of emergency, sickness, disability and old age.” In this regard, it must be noted that this right is from The basic rights associated with every person, and all the Kingdom's regulations and procedures in effect in the health field guarantee enabling women from their right to receive healthcare, and there is no restrictive condition for exercising this right.
This right is guaranteed to foreign women residing in the Kingdom through the cooperative health insurance system, And other related regulations. Indeed, the regulations in force in the Kingdom oblige government hospitals to provide the health services necessary for an emergency, regardless of their gender or regulatory status, and these efforts have resulted in an improvement in the general situation in some areas.
The competent authorities have implemented a number of programs and mechanisms aimed at raising the level of women's health, including:
The early detection of women's health clinic that provides mobile services, started in October 2014, that include early detection of diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and health awareness.
Health education programs to prevent anemia and iron deficiency, which are being implemented continuously in schools, shopping malls, and waiting rooms of health facilities.
Advanced Pregnancy Programs
National Program to support Breastfeeding.
Early detection of breast cancer program.
The healthy marriage program, which provides services for the detection of some hereditary and infectious diseases among those who are about to marry, such as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, hepatitis, and HIV.
Programs against drug abuse and psychotropic.
Awareness programs on balanced nutrition.
Programs to prevent chronic diseases, prevent cancer and avoid its causes.
Epidemiological control program.
Anti-smoking and awareness of its harms programs.
The Kingdom also enables non-Saudi women to access health services, by receiving them in the emergency departments of public and private hospitals, regardless of any consideration beyond the current case. As for the regular health cases of regular residents, they are governed by the cooperative health insurance system, which aims to provide and regulate healthcare for all residents in the Kingdom.
The Abuse Protection System
The system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stipulated protection from harm of all kinds, providing the necessary assistance and treatment, as well as shelter, social and psychological care for its victims, taking the necessary legal measures to hold the perpetrator accountable and punishing him or her. This is in addition to spreading awareness among community members about the concept of victimization and its implications, and addressing behavioral phenomena in society, which predict the existence of an appropriate environment for the occurrence of cases of abuse. The system has also required everyone who has heard of a case of abuse to report it immediately to the competent security or health authorities or private authorities, and set a special provision requiring every civil or military public employee and every worker in the private sector to know a case of abuse - By virtue of his work - informing his employer of the case upon his knowledge of it, and his side shall inform the competent authority or the police of the case of abuse immediately upon knowledge of it. The system also emphasized that it is impermissible to disclose the identity of the person reporting a case of abuse without his or her consent, or in the cases specified by the executive regulations of the system.
To view more on The Abuse Protection System Click here.
Child Protection System
The system is concerned with the protection of every person under the age of eighteen years, and aims to confront the abuse - in all its forms - and the neglect that the child may be exposed to in the surrounding environment, stressing the rights of the child established by Islamic law and decided by the international regulations and agreements to which the Kingdom has become a party. The law stipulates that a number of acts are considered as harm or neglect of the right of the child, including causing interruption of his or her education, mistreatment, harassment or exposing him or her to exploitation, the use of offensive words that degrade his or her dignity, and discrimination against him or her for any ethnic, social or economic reason. At the same time, the system prohibits the production, publication, display, circulation, and possession of any work directed at the child that addresses or provokes his or her instincts with a manner that adorns his or her behavior contrary to Islamic law, public order or public morals.
Equality, Non-discrimination
The Kingdom's laws require all State agencies to do justice to a person, regardless of his or her religion, race, gender, or nationality. In the event that any of these entities or their representative breaches the realization of one of the rights, whoever violates the right has recourse to any of the following entities:
Judicial authorities.
Relevant government departments.
Governmental and non-governmental human rights institutions.
District governors (administrative governors).
The King’s Council and the Crown Prince’s Council.
Women’s Rights
The State worked to preserve all women's rights, and issued decisions and orders related to that, most notably:
Not to require the woman to obtain the approval of the guardian when providing services to her or to complete the procedures related to her, unless there is a legal basis for this request.
The government agencies take the necessary measures to facilitate the provision of appropriate transportation for the entity’s female employees, according to the available capabilities, with an emphasis on the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to oblige employers to provide transportation means for women workers in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Law.
Supporting the Human Rights Commission - in coordination with the concerned government agencies - to develop the necessary programs to introduce the international conventions to which the Kingdom has joined, by setting up a comprehensive plan to raise awareness of women’s rights through the media and educational and training institutions, and this should include the provisions it has made in those agreements, and the nature of the Kingdom's obligations in these agreements.
Emphasis on all government agencies that provide services to women by publishing the instructions and applicable procedures for those services on their official sites.
Allowing women to drive and approving the application of the provisions of the Traffic Law and its implementing regulations - including the issuance of driving licenses - to both males and females.
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Gender equality
The systems of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, derived from Islamic law, adopt the principle of complementary equality between men and women, that take into account the characteristics of each gender, by which they differ from the other. This shall ultimately achieve justice. The Kingdom believes that the integrative relationship between both genders is an ideal way to promote and protect human rights including women's rights and the elimination of discrimination against them. It should be noted that the definition of the term “discrimination against women” contained in Article (1) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is consistent with what is in force in the Kingdom, as the Kingdom’s laws do not include any discrimination, exclusion or restriction that result in undermining the recognition of women’s human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields.
The principle of equality, which is fundamentally the opposite of discrimination, including discrimination against women, and contained in Article (8) of the Basic Law of Governance, which stipulates that “Governance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall be based on justice, consultation, and equality, in accordance with Islamic Sharia.” - implicitly - in Article (26) of the law which stipulates that “the State shall protect human rights in accordance with Islamic law,” and other principles and provisions contained in the Basic Law of Governance, and the kingdom’s regulations emanating from it are in line with relevant international standards, and that these provisions criminalize discrimination and violence against women. It is concerned with the activation of institutions that have been created or supported in their establishment for the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights, including the rights of women, such as the Human Rights Commission, the National Society for Human Rights and other institutions, in addition to the existing government agencies.
It should be noted that most areas of human rights have absolute equality between men and women, such as the rights to work, education, health, economic rights and others.
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Gender Equality and combating discrimination in the workplace
The labor system does not differentiate between women and men in rights and duties. Likewise, there is no discrimination in wages when the value and quality of work is equal. The Kingdom is one of the countries joining the International Labor Organization Convention No. (100) concerning the equality of men and women workers of equal value, and Convention No. (111) Concerning discrimination in employment and occupation. The Ministerial Resolution No. 2370/1 was issued on 9/18/1431 AH corresponding to 08/28/2010 AD, emphasized the prohibition of all wage discrimination between male and female workers for work of equal value.
We also find that there is complete equality between men and women in the search for work subsidy, whereby women receive the same amount of aid that men receive, as well as with regard to the training and employment support provided by the Human Resources Development Fund to those who are employed - women and men - in the private sector, whether in terms of the amount of support for training costs, remuneration, or duration of support. The labor system has also been amended to ensure equality between men and women in rights, duties, and conditions of service, as it was emphasized that work is a right for citizens. Discrimination on the basis of gender is not permissible. Added to that, the equality in the retirement age between men and women, which is (60) years old. The amendments also included confirmation banning on dismissing the worker or warning her of dismissal while she is pregnant or enjoying maternity leave. This includes the period of her illness arising from either of them. The social insurance system has also been amended.
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Equality in the various fields
Equality in education
The laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia guarantee all citizens the right to education free of charge without any discrimination. Article 30 of the Basic Law of Governance stipulates that "the State provides public education and is committed to combating illiteracy." The Kingdom's belief is in the importance of the role of education in achieving sustainable development and realizing human rights. Many efforts have been taken to provide education and combat illiteracy on the basis of gender equality.
In this regard, it is important to note that the educational system in the Kingdom is fundamentally based on equality between men and women in all its aspects, whether it is related to admission and enrollment processes, or with regard to curricula, exams, or what is related to the qualifications of teachers and lecturers, as well as the quality of educational facilities and equipment. Indeed, women have received more attention in this aspect, such as positive discrimination, especially with the continued establishment of a number of university cities for girls, such as Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University, and university cities affiliated with Imam Muhammad bin Saud University and King Saud University.
With regard to literacy programs, the Kingdom has paid special attention to this field, in line with its aspirations set out in successive development plans with regard to reducing the rate of illiteracy among women through legislative and non-legislative measures and activating those measures, most notably the implementation of the decision on compulsory education and the establishment of a government administration for adult education. It is concerned with preparing adult education plans and programs, and expanding the spread of general education schools in remote villages. This is in addition to the opening of literacy centers in women's reformatories, homes for girls, homes for the elderly women, charities and societies for memorizing the Holy Quran. The Ministry of Education has launched a number of flexible programs aimed at reaching the target females in their places, such as the Society Without Illiteracy Program, the City Without Illiteracy Program, and the (Alnoor Caravans) project, which uses technology in teaching through mobile cars equipped as classes with computers that travel in villages to eradicate illiteracy and educate rural women. The Learned Neighborhood Program, and the Summer Campaigns Project for Awareness and Literacy are projects that provide financial rewards to the beneficiaries to encourage them, and support services, such as school supplies, transportation and others.
Equality in grants and subsidies
The existing programs are based on providing educational and training opportunities for both genders on an equal footing, and in accordance with the same legal requirements related to the admission procedures. The percentage of scholarships directed to females has increased significantly, whether in relation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' foreign scholarship program, or with regard to internal scholarships in Saudi universities. The number of female students studying abroad in 2015 reached (34,674) students, an increase of (27%) compared to their numbers in 2008, which reached (8128) students in that year. The number of female graduates in the scholarship countries in 2015 reached (3720) female students, an increase of (28%) compared to their number in 2008, which reached that year (201) female students.
Equality in health services
Article 31 of the Basic Law of Governance affirmed the right to receive health care for both men and women, as it stipulated: “The State cares for public health and provides health care for every citizen and his family in cases of emergency, illness, disability and old age.” In this regard, it must be noted that this right is one of the basic rights associated with every person. All of the Kingdom's regulations and procedures in force in the health field guarantee the empowerment of women to receive health care, and there is no restrictive condition for exercising this right. This right is guaranteed to resident foreign women in the Kingdom, through the cooperative health insurance system, and other related systems. Indeed, the regulations in force in the Kingdom oblige government hospitals to provide the necessary health services for an emergency, regardless of their gender or statutory status.
Critical health cases are also received in the emergency departments of governmental and private hospitals, regardless of any consideration beyond the present case. As for the regular health cases for regular residents, they are governed by the cooperative health insurance system, which aims to provide and regulate health care for all residents in the Kingdom. It is worth noting that the expatriates ’commitment to the residency and work systems enables the concerned authorities to provide and protect their rights, including the right to health.
Human Rights Entities and Institutions
Many governmental and non-governmental institutions have been established that are concerned with protecting and promoting human rights or specific rights thereof, in addition to the responsibilities of government agencies primarily concerned with the implementation of human rights, each in his field of competence, and these institutions include:
Human Rights Commission
Human Rights Commission was established by the decision of the Council of Ministers to be a government agency directly related to the king concerned with the protection and promotion of human rights in accordance with international standards in light of the provisions of Islamic law. Its organization has granted it broad powers that allow it to perform its duties independently and freely, and among the most prominent of these powers are the following:
Ensuring that the concerned government agencies implement the applicable laws and regulations regarding human rights, uncover abuses that constitute a violation of human rights, and take the necessary legal measures in this regard.
Expressing opinion on draft regulations related to human rights.
Following up to government agencies to implement the relevant international human rights rules to which the Kingdom has joined, and to ensure that those authorities take the necessary measures to implement them.
Visiting prisons and detention centers at any time without permission from the competent authority and submitting reports on them to the Prime Minister.
Receiving complaints related to human rights, verifying their validity, and taking legal action regarding them.
Establishing the general policy for developing awareness of human rights.
It should be noted that the commission submitted its (first) report on the human rights situation in the Kingdom, which included the observations it had monitored related to the implementation by government agencies of the kingdom’s obligations under international human rights standards, and the complaints it had received in this regard, especially with regard to prisoners and the detainees. This is added to the right to resort to justice and equality, to protection from abuse and torture, to ensure physical integrity, the right to reputation and dignity, the right to freedom of movement, issues of nationality and residence, and other basic rights, in addition to what is related to the right to work and social care, health care, protection from family violence, and other economic, social and cultural rights, in addition to all that is related to the rights of special groups, including women, children, people with disabilities and the elderly.