By EMAMEH GABRIEL
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has continued to maintain its status as an unexpected global protagonist. Its story, once whispered in the shadows of tradition, now blooms vibrantly under the sunlight of Vision 2030, a blueprint not just for economic transformation, but for the emancipation of half its population.
At the heart of this metamorphosis lies the empowerment of Saudi women, a force once dormant, now stirring like a desert rose after a long-awaited rain.
This narrative took centre stage at the United Nations Headquarters in March 2025, during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). The Kingdom, through its Permanent Mission, hosted a high-level side event titled โEmpowering Women, Strengthening Society.โ The gathering was not merely a diplomatic engagement but a celebration of a quiet revolution, one that has seen Saudi women step out of the confines of societal expectations and into the limelight of leadership, innovation, and influence.
The eveningโs keynote speaker, Sheikha Maymuna Al-Khalil, Secretary General of the Family Affairs Secretariat, painted a vivid picture of this transformation. Her words were not just a recitation of policies but the echoes of hope, resilience, and ambition. She spoke of Vision 2030 as a gardenerโs hand, carefully nurturing seeds of potential into a flourishing garden of opportunity. Saudi women are no longer spectators in their own story.
Her address resonated deeply with the audience, a mosaic of global leaders, activists, and thinkers.
Among them was Dr. Maryam Shetty, a distinguished delegate from Nigeria and a respected politician known for her commitment to womenโs empowerment and societal development. Dr. Shettyโs presence added a layer of international perspective to the dialogue, bridging the experiences of women in Saudi Arabia with those in developing nations like Nigeria. Reflecting on the event, Dr. Shetty described the presentation of
Sheikha Maymuna Al-Khalil, the Secretary General of the Family Affairs Secretariat of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as transformative and impactful, of Vision 2030 and the role of the Saudi women in a changing landscape.
“It left a lasting impression on me, more importantly after our deep engagement on the womenโs roles in politics in developing countries. Additionally it underscored the importance of fostering dialogue and collaboration among women to drive meaningful change in society”, Dr. Shitty added.
Under Vision 2030, Saudi women have been granted the tools to cultivate their own destinies. Education, once a privilege, is now a right, a fertile soil in which young girls plant the seeds of their dreams. Employment, once restricted, has become a vast field of opportunity, where women harvest the fruits of their labour in sectors ranging from technology to finance, medicine to politics. Leadership, once a distant horizon, is now a summit within reach, with women scaling its heights with determination and grace.
Dr. Shetty, drawing from her own experiences in Nigeria, underscored the universality of the struggle for gender equality. The stories shared here are not just Saudi stories, they are global stories. They remind us that the fight for womenโs rights is a shared journey, one that transcends borders and culture.
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