King Salman appoints 13 women to Saudi Human Rights Commission

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has appointed 13 women to the kingdom’s Human Rights Commission, giving them equal representation with men.

The appointments were announced in a royal decree constituting the rights body for its fourth four-year term.

The HRC President Dr Awwad Al Awwad welcomed the appointments, saying this would further the Saudi government's efforts to empower women by giving them leadership positions in various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Dr Al Alwwad thanked the Saudi king and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the kingdom’s deputy prime minister and minister of defence, for the royal order restructuring the HRC for its fourth term.

Saudi Arabia has implemented wide-ranging reforms that have allowed women a more prominent role in society over the past few years. One of the most prominent changes was the lifting of the driving ban in June 2018.

The sweeping social reforms are part of Crown Prince Mohammed's drive to modernise the kingdom and move it away from a dependence on oil revenue.

Two years in the Saudi fast lane: ‘driving changed my life’

Saudi Arabia decrees sweeping changes to women's rights

Part of the plan is encouraging Saudi women to join the labour force as he forges an economy not dependent on oil revenue.

Last August Saudi authorities said women would no longer need the permission of male guardians to travel or obtain a passport after decrees issued by King Salman.

The former system required women to seek permission of their guardian – usually their father or husband, but sometimes a brother or son – to marry, apply for a passport and leave the country.

The amendments also grant women the right to register child birth, marriage or divorce, and to be issued official family documents and be eligible as a guardian to children who are minors.

Women will also no longer need permission from a male guardian to study at university, undergo surgery or get a job.

The Ministry for Labour and Social Development issued a raft of directives regarding the working environment for women, including the demand that women are paid equally with men.

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.