Cautious welcome to Saudi decree over guardian system
May 6, 2017
Human rights advocates cautiously welcome royal decree by Saudi Arabia loosening guardianship rules on women.
The new decree was tentatively welcomed by women’s advocates [Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters]
A Saudi royal decree allowing women greater access to government services without the consent of a male relative has drawn positive, but cautious, responses from human rights advocates.
The decree by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, issued last month but first reported on Thursday, said women should not be required to obtain consent for services “unless there is a legal basis for the request in accordance with the provision of the Islamic [law]”, according to local media.
Women’s rights activists said the memo codifies the rights of Saudi women to access a job, higher education or medical procedures and to exit prison, among others, without a guardian’s permission.
