LONDON: Empowering women is 鈥渃rucial鈥欌€� to transforming 萝莉视频 into 鈥渁 country that can compete globally on different levels,鈥欌€� Hoda Al-Helaissi, a member of the Shoura Council, said.
Speaking on International Women鈥檚 Day, she listed the rapid-fire reforms that are widening women鈥檚 roles in the Kingdom, but voiced frustration that international perceptions of Saudi women are still as 鈥渙ppressed, subservient to and suffocated by men, uneducated, not allowed to work and inferior to her partner.鈥欌€�
She said at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a UK think tank: 鈥淭he stereotype of the Saudi woman is far from the truth. The Saudi woman has revealed herself to be a strong and ambitious individual, influencing and participating positively in society.鈥欌€�
Describing the tendency in the west to blur the 鈥檉ine line鈥欌€� between religion and tradition, she emphasised that 鈥渋t is not Islam that hinders progression of women.鈥欌€�
鈥淢uch of what is seen by the west as being backwards and oppressive to women is based on traditions,鈥欌€� Al-Helaissi explained.
Describing women as vital in realising Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman鈥檚 ambitions for the Kingdom, she said: 鈥淎 country鈥檚 true development can only come about... when it uses 100 percent of its human resources, male and female.鈥欌€�
The make-up of Saudi society is shifting, she continued, paving the way for women to play a more active role in creating the country鈥檚 future.
萝莉视频 is changing at a rate that 鈥渇ew countries have seen before ... but this change 鈥渕ust come from within鈥欌€� and not be imposed from outside, she added.