1. Recognise the Shia presence in the key system of government (the
constitution) and create legislation giving them special attention and
protection.
2. Speed up the participation of women in the political sphere and in
administrations of state institutions and their involvement as effective
members in the consultative assembly and assign ministerial portfolios to
them via the quota system in the interim. Do not exempt Shia women from the
Shia minority but treat them in the same way as the men.
3. Lift the wide restraints on judicial agreements on all forms of discrimination
against women, ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and
the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women with its implementation.
4. Annul the state system, which severely limits women’s ability to behave as
independent and equal as other members of Saudi society in as much as it
limits their legal capacity and their personal status such as being able to
choose a place of residence, means of transport and work.
We also advise the United Nations to:
1. Let the independent expert on minority issues undertake a visit to Saudi
Arabia and look closely at the reality of Saudi Arabian women’s lives in
general and women belonging to the Shia minority in particular.
2. Exert international pressure on Saudi Arabia to follow international
treaties and other international agreements which protect the rights of
minorities in general and of women in particular.
Thank you for attention.