News story

Foreign office welcomes first female participation in Saudi parliament

UK hopes appointment of 30 women to Saudi Arabia’s parliament will be a ‘landmark moment’.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Alistair Burt
• Published: 19 February 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

New members of Saudi Arabia’s parliament, the Majlis Ash-Shura, were sworn in today with female members sitting for the first time. Commenting today, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, said:

I strongly welcome the decision by His Majesty King Abdullah to appoint 30 women to his consultative council, 20% of the total membership. We hope this will be a landmark moment on the road towards equality for women in Saudi Arabia. I wish these new Shura members every success in their new role.

Further Information

British Embassy in Saudi Arabia website

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Published 19 February 2013