CAIRO: Giving Saudi Arabian women the right to vote will do little to ensure their rights if action is not immediately taken to end discriminatory laws in the Gulf Kingdom, Amnesty International said today. Their statement follows the announcement that Saudi woman would be given the right to vote and run for elected office in 2015. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that women will have the right to vote and run in municipal elections, the kingdom's only public poll, from 2015 and be appointed to the Shura Council, a body that advises the monarchy. Still, the rights group said that despite being given the right to vote, women in the country are still unable to travel, get paid work or attend higher education, as well as not being allowed to marry without the permission of a male guardian. “It is a welcome, albeit limited, step along the long road towards gender equality in Saudi Arabia, and a testament to the long struggle of women's rights activists there,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “It is, however, much overdue and does not go nearly far enough.” The London-based rights group said women are also “still unable to legally drive in the kingdom.” Last summer, a high profile “right to drive” campaign was launched by Saudi women and led to dozens of arrests as the government cracked down. The women were all released shortly afterwards, but only after being forced to sign a pledge that they would not drive again. Several are reported to be facing court cases. “The whole system of women's subordination to men in Saudi Arabia needs to be dismantled,” added Luther. “We can only hope that this announcement on voting will be the first in a long line of reforms that guarantee Saudi women the rights that they have been demanding for so long,” he continued. According to Amnesty and other rights groups, the male guardianship still in place in the country limits a woman's ability to move freely in public and private life. Making matters worse, Saudi women are still barred from passing their nationality to their children. Domestic violence against women is reported to be rife in the country. “While moving in the right direction, Saudi Arabia is moving far too slowly. Ultimately, it is no great achievement to be one of the last countries in the world to grant women the vote,” continued Luther. BM
