Saudi Arabia

Restrictions Lack access to: Lack access to: Medical attention without male consent Medical attention without male consent Traveling within or outside the country without male consent Traveling within or outside the country without male consent Driving themselves Driving themselves Bedouin women in the desert have more freedom to drive Bedouin women in the desert have more freedom to drive

Abaya Must wear the abaya out in public or when in the presence of a unrelated male Strictly enforced by the mutaween, to the extreme of death

Legal Testimony of a woman is worth ½ that of a male Testimony of a woman is worth ½ that of a male A male may divorce a woman for any reason, but a woman must show legal grounds for divorce A male may divorce a woman for any reason, but a woman must show legal grounds for divorce If she succeeds, she loses her children to her ex when they turn seven (boys) or nine (girls) If she succeeds, she loses her children to her ex when they turn seven (boys) or nine (girls) May be stopped, arrested, or beaten by mutaween for any reason May be stopped, arrested, or beaten by mutaween for any reason

Progress? In 2005 a Grand mufti barred forced marriages In 2005 a Grand mufti barred forced marriages In 2004 it seemed women would be able to vote In 2004 it seemed women would be able to vote Several attempts to allow women to drive Several attempts to allow women to drive

Progress? Receive free education through university level Receive free education through university level Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority Women own 20% of local businesses Women own 20% of local businesses 5% of the formal workforce 5% of the formal workforce

Carmen Bin Ladin Born in Switzerland Born in Switzerland Married Yeslam Bin Ladin Married Yeslam Bin Ladin Older brother of Osama Older brother of Osama Lived in SA for many years before moving back to Europe Lived in SA for many years before moving back to Europe Three adult daughters Three adult daughters

Daughters in Switzerland on 9-11 Daughters in Switzerland on 9-11 Wafah lived in NYC Wafah lived in NYC Accusations of knowing 9-11 was planned Accusations of knowing 9-11 was planned Death threats Death threats Media frenzy, friends stopped calling Media frenzy, friends stopped calling Law firm dropped her divorce case Law firm dropped her divorce case

“I could not stand quietly by while my little girls’ bright minds were extinguished. I could not teach them to submit to the values of Saudi Arabia. I could not watch them be branded as rebels because of the Western values that I taught them – despite all the punishment that might ensue. And were they to comply with Saudi society, I could not face the prospect that my daughters might grow up to become like the faceless, voiceless women I lived among.”

Foreign workers 8.8 million foreign workers 8.8 million foreign workers South/South East Asia, East Africa, other Middle East nations South/South East Asia, East Africa, other Middle East nations Come in both voluntary and forced Come in both voluntary and forced Voluntary usually become domestic workers Voluntary usually become domestic workers Involuntary usually sold for sexual slavery Involuntary usually sold for sexual slavery

Voluntary workers often in abusive situations Voluntary workers often in abusive situations Most often the abuse comes from a Saudi woman Most often the abuse comes from a Saudi woman Government ignores abuse as a “family matter” unless formal charges are brought Government ignores abuse as a “family matter” unless formal charges are brought No legal aid provided No legal aid provided Indonesia prohibited sending unskilled labor to SA due to high rate of abuse Indonesia prohibited sending unskilled labor to SA due to high rate of abuse New law created specifically excludes domestic workers New law created specifically excludes domestic workers

Slave trade Destination country Destination country Most are tricked or sold by family into slavery Most are tricked or sold by family into slavery Most often sold as sex slaves or camel jockeys Most often sold as sex slaves or camel jockeys Even fewer protections than voluntary workers Even fewer protections than voluntary workers Tier Three country Tier Three country