Saudi Arabia to appoint women judges

Saudi Arabia is all set to appoint well-trained women judges as part of the social reforms to empower women in the country, said Hind Al-Zahid, undersecretary for women's empowerment, Saudi Civil Service ministry.

She stated that the government is committed to empowering women in various sectors and several schemes were being implemented under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development including generating more employment opportunities for women. The Saudi Justice Minister Walid Al Samani had recently directed the appointment of over 100 women notary officials in the judiciary department.

The target of initiating 25 per cent of women participation in the Kingdom's labour market by 2025 has now been exceeded. Around 31 per cent of women workforce are currently employed in various private and public sectors in Saudi Arabia. As the employed women are most concentrated in education and health sectors, it is also expected that Saudi women will soon be appointed at the leadership levels of various ministries.

In the wake of Vision 2030 announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, diverse initiatives to ensure women's participation at various levels are being enforced in the country. Initial women empowerment programmes were by permitting women to enter stadiums and by increasing women representatives in the various committees including the Shura Council.

More than 1.5 lakh women are licensees just a year after the decision to grant a license for women came into effect on June 24, 2018. The reforms implemented by Saudi Arabia which are aimed at the all-round upliftment of women have attracted international attention.