SAUDI ARABIA: UN Official Eyes Women Envoys From Kingdom
AFP reported on 9 March that Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNfPA former Executive Director, has expressed hopes that Saudi Arabia will soon appoint a number of women as its ambassadors to foreign countries. "God willing, I would like to see some of you as the Kingdom's ambassadors abroad shortly," Obaid told the women staff of the Foreign Ministry during a lecture at the ministry's premises on Monday. Obaid said Saudi Arabia's membership in the UN Security Council in 2014 would help it play an important role in highlighting Arab and Islamic causes, especially Middle East peace and the situation in Iraq. Read: AFP
SAUDI ARABIA: There’s More to Saudi Women than the Niqab
The Jerusalem Post (Israel) published an op-ed by Saudi journalist Maha Akeel on 14 February that said, "despite the images perpetrated by Western media, Saudi women have come a long way and are increasingly recognized for our achievements despite the obstacles we face. We are managers of multi-billion dollar companies, world-renowned scientists, university deans and bank CEOs, as well as a director of the UNFPA." Read: The Jerusalem Post