Women all around the world are allowed to vote
Suffrage is one of the oldest issues that women’s rights
activist have been fighting for. The struggle to gain suffrage
is often referred to as the first wave of feminism. In 1906
Finland became the first country in the world to grant
women the right to vote and stand in elections. Now, 105
years later, Saudi women have also taken a step towards
equality with the decision of King Abdullah to grant the
women of Saudi Arabia the right to vote and stand for
election. The right for women to vote and stand in elections
hasn’t always been the case in the West, for example in
Switzerland women got suffrage as late as 1971.
According to the decision made by King Abdullah, Saudi
women can take part in municipal elections – the only public
elections in Saudi Arabia. Women will also be able to be
members of the Shura Council which has the power to
propose laws to the King.
The announcement has been received with mixed emotions.
According to the international organization of Parliaments,
IPU, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the decision means that
no country in the world now discriminates against women
when it comes to electing leaders. Others remain more
sceptical. For example professor and researcher Stéphane
Lacroix said in an interview for French newspaper Libération
that this decision does not fundamentally change Saudi
society.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the recent
announcements. He believes that these represent an
important step in the realization by women in Saudi Arabia
of their fundamental civil and political rights.
It will be interesting to see how this law will be implemented
and if it succeeds in advancing women’s rights in Saudi
Arabia.
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