Saudi Arabia to draft new sexual harassment law
RIYADH, September 30, 2017
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman continued his push to improve women’s rights in the kingdom this week, calling on the interior minister to draft the law.
The interior minister has been given 60 days to draft the new sexual harassment law enforcing penalties on perpetrators, reported Arab News, citing a royal decree.
“Considering the dangers sexual harassment poses and its negative impact on the individual, the family and society, along with its contradiction of Islamic principles, our customs and traditions... the ministry shall prepare a draft law to tackle sexual harassment,” the decree stated.
A 2014 study revealed that nearly 80 per cent of women aged 18-48 said they had been exposed to some form of sexual harassment.
It is not the first time Saudi Arabia has considered dealing with the issue. In 2014 the Shoura Council in Saudi considered a bill tackling verbal and physical harassment according to local press reports.
That draft considered penalties that included fines of SR500,000 ($133,322), to jail terms and floggings.
The draft comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is modernising its economy under the Vision 2030, including giving women more rights that will ultimately free them up to join the workforce., said the Arab News report
Earlier this week King Salman issued a royal decree that allowed women to apply for driving licenses and drive by June 2018.
