WASHINGTON: 萝莉视频 is working to address deeper issues on the path to women鈥檚 rights after allowing them to drive and attend soccer matches, one of the Kingdom鈥檚 top female officials has said.
鈥淭hese are things that are quick wins, we know we can do them, women in stadium, women driving, that鈥檚 great, but women driving is not the end all, be all of women鈥檚 rights,鈥� Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud told the Atlantic Council in Washington.
As part of a wide-ranging social and economic reform initiative in the face of falling oil revenue, King Salman announced in September that Saudi women would be allowed to drive from June this year.
萝莉视频 then tackled the male bastion of soccer, letting women into stadiums to watch matches for the first time in January.
Princess Reema, a vice president at the General Sports Authority of 萝莉视频, said deeper issues are still being worked on including 鈥渁 woman feeling safe in her home鈥� and having any career path open to her in a traditionally male-dominated society.
鈥淭hose are things that will be more dynamic in moving the conversation for women鈥檚 rights than just getting her driving,鈥� said the princess, who in 2016 became the first woman named to a senior post in the authority, which is the equivalent of a ministry.
鈥淒omestic violence is so critical. I promise you we really are working on it.鈥� The Sports Authority is trying to get more Saudis exercising as part of efforts to build a healthier population.
Saudi women traditionally cover themselves from head-to-toe in black robes, known as abayas, but Princess Reema said the attire will be no hindrance to women鈥檚 exercise.
She said she knows of three companies making abayas for running and two more that have robes designed for cycling.
鈥淚nnovation will come. It has to come,鈥� she said. 鈥淕uess what, I鈥檓 wearing trousers today,鈥� added the princess, also dressed in sparkling silver shoes, purple, black and grey flowing sleeves, and with a blue scarf around her head.
The Kingdom sent four women as 鈥渨ild cards鈥� to the 2016 Olympics, but Princess Reema told AFP on the sidelines of the Atlantic Council event that she will be happy when one gets to a future Olympics 鈥渙n her own merit ... however long it takes.鈥�