The organization’s report, entitled” Boxed in: Women and Saudi Arabia’s Male Guardianship System,” highlights the limited changes that took place over more than ten years to ease restrictions on women “, including the repeal of the law that had required women to obtain permission from her guardian to work.

The report adds saying “Although the reforms were a step in the right direction, but it remains partial and incomplete, and still the state of the male guardianship system unchanged and it continues to hamper the reform”.

The Chairman of the Society, Dr. Mufleh Rabiean Al-Qahtani has commented on the report in an interview with the Reuters news agency, saying that after reviewing the report, it turns that with regard to guardianship on women, there is a confusion between the legal texts that can be modified or developed by the authorities, and between the customs and traditions prevailing in the society, which need time to persuade people to change it. “

Besides, he adds that “the guardianship on women has forensic aims to protect and assist women and not to harm them, and if there are some dilemmas in the application of some cases, they should not be circulated. However, we see that there is significant progress in recent years towards women’s empowerment. Notable examples include her appointment in the Shura Council, or being allowed to participate in the municipal elections as voters and elected or appointed some women in senior positions, or enable them to the right of work and all levels of education. “

Regarding the approval of the woman’s guardian for her travel, he explains that ” the Saudi family is interconnected, and the conciliation among its members is important to maintain family stability and continuity, and to prevent any disputes or dispersion, and there is no problem for a woman to travel if there is no dispute, but in the case of dispute, it must be resolved first”.

Moreover, he adds that “we have recently detected that there are a lot of facilities that have been granted to women in order to facilitate their access to the litigation, and to enable them of their rights in the area of personal status.”

Finally, the Chairman of the Society has stressed that we should take into account that the Saudi society is a conservative society, and some of the customs and traditions need some time to be adjusted.  Women in some other communities did not get some of their rights such as her right to vote, except too late.