بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم hatoon al fassi is there an economici reform for saudi...

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Hatoon AL FASSI Is there an Economici Reform for Saudi

Women?

Is There an Economic Reform for Saudi

Women?

Hatoon AL FASSi Nationalization of the Workforce in the GCC

Countries 10-11 April 2011

NYU Abu Dhabi Institute- Abu DhabiHatoon AL FASSI Is there an Economici Reform for Saudi

Women?


Women?

Work is Worship Campaign


Women?

Basic Statistics

Total population (2010 census): 27,563,432

of which 18, 973,615 are Saudis ,

divided into:

9,525,178 men &

9,448,437 women


Women?

Economic Participation

In 2007, 3,095,276 work Men 2,815,420 Women 659،487 8,589,817 non-Saudi (2010)


Women?

Labor Participation Rates

5.5% women/ 31% men 9% of the State sector, 1.5 Private

Gulf women 15%Egyptian 30%

Pakistani 28%

US 1989, 60% women/ 75% men

Unemployment statistics

Women, 28% (2010) Men 11%

Outside the Labor Force Male 2,248,803, Female 5,073,344

Ph.D 577

MA & High Diplomas 2317

BA 322,464


Women?

Obstacles to Women’s Work

Accessibility, Driving

Education Limitations

Limiting women to work in specific jobs

Discriminatory laws in public & private sect

Religious Establishment position: mahram, wisaya, wilaya

No Majority age for the Saudi womanEffective lack of legal capacity before the law

Gabs in the legal environmentHatoon AL FASSI Is there an Economici Reform for Saudi

Women?


Women?

Laws Restricting Employment

Women are not allowed to be employed to work from sunset to sunrise (Article 161 of Labor Law)

Women are not allowed to open shops in malls, money exchange shops or others. (Resolution of

Higher Ulama’s Commission in 1981).

Women are not allowed to occupy “jobs that infringe modesty and chastity, including mixing between the sexes, or jobs unsuitable for them.” (Resolution of Higher Ulama’s Commission in 1992).


Women?

Positive Developments

In the last ten years:2003, Resolution 120 of 9 points, extending the job market for women2005, Saudi Employment Strategy2005, New Labor Law 2009, Campaign against the wakeel legal agent off women’s businesses.

120 Resolution

The issue of sales women of lingerie shops


Women?

The Saudi Employment Strategy

2005 -2007

2009 issued by Ministerial cabinet25 years plan Women to substitute the foreign labor through

training and continuous assessment steps


Women?

The Labor Law

2005, the new Labor Law (private sector)

12 new articles about women

The Mixing clause

Maternity leafs & retirement


Women?

The Legal Agent

Sample of women’s campaigns

2009 Campaign to remove the ‘legal guardian’ off biz women


Women?


Women?

Economically

Participation in Economic fora

Forming informal unions, east and west

Organizing women groups

Networking with gulf women ORGs


Women?

Thank you


Women?

Women’s Response

Politically

Economically

Socially

Culturally


Women?

Politically

Demonstrations for Palestine Demonstrations by mothers of detainees 20032007, Sit-in by mothers & wives in Buraidah2008, Women for Reform ,CEDAW shadow report Campaigns, for Palestine 2000, 2002, for Iraq 2003, for Lebanon against war 2006Extensive writingCampaigns …


Women?

Wajeha al-Huweider’s Campaigns(example)

Aug 2006 , solo demonstration Sept 2007 driving petitionMarch 2008 YouTube drivingTraffic DeptMansoor & Fatmah’s letterJuly 2009 off the guardianshipNov 2009 Black ribbon campaignChild marriageSaudi Women Voice Web Site http://www.sawomenvoice.com

http://www.sawomenvoice.com/


Women?

Socially

The initiatives of charity women societies

Cooperation with NGOs, eg. AGFUND

Individual initiatives, in Hasa, Qatif, Abha, Riyadh, Jeddah

Success of violence against women group


Women?

Culturally

Continuity of informal women cultural clubs and activitiesForming some pressure groups: SWWWomen committees in all literary & cultural official clubs International Prizes on culture & science Saudi women teaching & working abroad


Women?

Women’s Demands

1.Remove “guardianship" of women

2.Identify women’s majority age

3.Codify laws

4.Establish family courts

5.Revise discriminatory laws

6.Recognize women as full citizens


Women?

Women’s Demands – continued

6. Equal opportunities in work and education

7. Amend laws governing work environment

8. Ensure women’s transport safety

9. Empowerment: full participation politically, socially, economically, culturally & religiously.


Women?

Recommended Readings: BOOKS

Soraya ALTORKY, 1986, Women in SA

Saddeka AREBI, 1994, Women and words in Saudi Arabia.

Hatoon AL FASSI, 2007,Women in pre-Islamic Arabia


Women?

ArticlesAlejandra Galindo Marines, 2005, Shifting Boundaries: women in) Saudi Arabia. In South Exchange Programme for Research on Development History, Beirut. Gwenn Okrhuluk, 2004 ‘Reform and Islamism in Saudi Arabia’, in Islamic Activism, ed. Quintan Wictorovicz, Indiana University Press, pp.250-269. Gulf women march towards equality-afp-2006.Saudi Women New Perspectives and Visions for Reforms. Arab News. Women Make Gains Despite Challenges-maha Aqeel-elections. Let women vote in Saudi Arabia, The Daily Star More Women ‘Consultants’ Join Shoura- . Shoura Council Should Ensure the Freedom of Civil Societies Without Govt Interference-hatoon al FassiWrit, rights and Saudi women-International Herald TribuneThe Rights of Women in the Grand MosqueWhy should men run our business, ask women entrepreneurs.


Women?

Thank you

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