By Innovation-sa on August 8, 2019 in News
In a historic decision, Saudi Arabia announced that it will allow women to apply for and obtain passports as well as leave the country without securing the consent of a male relative.
The change was included in extensive amendments to laws governing travel documents, civil status, labor and social insurance approved by the cabinet this week and will become law from the end of August.
According to a statement from the Center for Government Communication, the new law will allow women over the age of 21 to travel independently without permission from a male “guardian”- husband, father, or other male relative, just as their male counterparts.
“The new regulations are history in the making,” said Kingdom’s first women ambassador to Washington Princess Reema Bint Bandar on Twitter. “They call for equal engagement of women and men in our society. It is a holistic approach to gender equality that will unquestionably create real change for Saudi women”.
Bloomberg