Women in Arab || Saudi Arabia’s first Female Candidates in Election || Woman's right in KSA

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• published: 08 Nov 2016
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Women in Arab || Saudi Arabia’s first Female Candidates in Election || Woman's right in KSA Saudi Arabia elects up to 17 female councilors in historic election https://goo.gl/EvcUnd Saudi Arabia elected 20 women in a vote where candidates were banned from using photos of themselves https://goo.gl/21BnSG Saudi Arabia elects its first female politicians At least 18 women elected to municipal councils in Saudi Arabia's first poll open to female voters and candidates. https://goo.gl/hjVqtJ Timescale 00:00 - 10:00 introduction 10:00 -20:00 Candidates struggle, obstacle. 20:00 - 35:00 Election & results with Candidates reaction Rasha Hefzi, a prominent businesswoman who won a seat in Jeddah, thanked all those who supported her campaign and trusted her, pledging: “What we have started, we will continue.” Hefzi and other candidates used social media to contact voters because of restrictions on women meeting men and bans on both sexes using photographs. At least 18 women have won seats in Saudi Arabia's municipal polls, the country's first-ever elections open to female voters and candidates, local reports said. The women who won hail from vastly different parts of the country, ranging from Saudi Arabia's largest city to a small village near Islam's holiest site. Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was elected to the council of Madrakah, a region in Mecca, the official SPA news agency reported, citing election commission president Osama al-Bar. ‘Ladies First’: Saudi Arabia’s Female Candidates Women in Arab || Saudi Arabia’s first Female Candidates in Election || Woman's right in KSA Women in Arab || Saudi Arabia’s first Female Candidates in Election || Woman's right in KSA https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion;=1&espv;=2&ie;=UTF-8#q=women%20in%20saudi%20arabia wwww.youtube.com The turnout, estimate to be about 25%, was low, as was registration. Only 1.32 million men and 130,000 women out of a population of 20 million voted – figures that highlight the unfamiliarity of the democratic process of election in the absolute monarchy. But there was a surprise at the number of women who took seats. “I think it’s great that several women won in different regions of Saudi Arabia,” said writer Maha Akeel. “It shows how much Saudi society has progressed on the issue of not only accepting, but actually supporting women in public office, and this could mean that more change is to come. I’m surprised. We expected maybe one or two women would win.” Local elections were held in 2005 and 2011, but this was the first time women were allowed to take part. The powers of municipal councils are limited to advising local government and helping oversee budgets, but the election has still been hailed by women activists as a crucial first step towards achieving wider rights and broadening the understanding of civic engagement. “I don’t consider winning to be the ultimate goal,” said the Riyadh-based historian Hatoon al-Fassi, coordinator for the grassroots Saudi Baladi initiative, which worked to raise voter awareness and increase female participation. “But it is the right of being a citizen that I concentrate on and I consider this a turning point.” Fahda al-Rwali, a female voter, explained why the election was significant for her. saudi arabia women punishments, saudi arabia women's clothing, saudi arabia women's rights facts, women's rights in saudi arabia 2015, saudi women driving, a girl's guide to saudi arabia, saudi arabia women dress code, saudi women breastfeed driver, saudi arabia sexism, saudi arabia women, saudi arabia corruption, saudi arabia culture, saudi arabia death, saudi arabia executioner, saudi arabia girls, saudi arabia gay execution, saudi arabia human rights, saudi arabia human rights violations, saudi arabia oil documentary, saudi arabia rules for women "As a woman, I need some services, some needs in my neighbourhood, like nurseries. I need social centres for youth and retirement, like this. So maybe the woman can concentrate more than the man on those needs." Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal, reporting from Riyadh after the polls closed, described the elections as "momentous". "People here are hoping this is a significant step on the path towards having a more inclusive society, not only for women but also for youth because the voting age has been reduced from 21 to 18," he said.