Women's rights in Saudi Arabia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Women's rights in Saudi Arabia is a topic of concern and controversy internationally. Saudi women have experienced major legal rights reforms since 2017,[7][8][9][10] after facing Wahhabi religious fundamentalist dominance for decades.[11][12]
General Statistics | |
---|---|
Maternal mortality (per 100,000) | 12 (2015)[1] |
Women in parliament | 19.9% (2016)[2] |
Women over 25 with secondary education | 77.2% (2020)[3] |
Women in labour force | 37.0% (2022)[4] |
Gender Inequality Index[5] (2021) | |
Value | 0.247 |
Rank | 59th out of 191 |
Global Gender Gap Index[6] (2022) | |
Value | 0.636 |
Rank | 127th out of 146 |
According to Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, women in Saudi Arabia still experience discrimination in relation to marriage, family, and divorce, despite the reforms,[13][14] and the Saudi government continues to target and repress women's rights activists and movements.[15] Prominent feminist campaigns include the Women to Drive Movement[16] and the anti male-guardianship campaign,[17][18] which have resulted in significant advances in women's rights.[19]
Women's societal roles in Saudi Arabia are heavily affected by Islamic and local traditions of the Arabian Peninsula. Wahhabism and the Hanbali school of Sunni Islam, as well as the traditions of the Arabian Peninsula and national and local laws, all impact women's rights in Saudi Arabia.[20]