November 12, 2004

PRINCESS REEMA BINT SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ AL SAUD: SOCIETY IS A FLYING BIRD WITH TWO WINGS, EACH ONE OF THEM IS INDISPENSABLE. THE ASSAULT ON THE KINGDOM AND ON WOMEN DID NOT DETER US FROM GOING AHEAD WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT PLANS. Princess Reema Bint Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz believes that the active participation of women in the process of development and change is one of the axioms of life and that social equilibrium cannot be achieved if one of the two wings remains imperative. The princess states that the Saudi woman has attained remarkable achievements in all spheres inspite of her relatively recent admission to the field of public education. She adds that the Saudi woman is well qualified to play a significant role in both the public and private sectors. In her family life, she takes care to prepare her children, and especially her daughters for their role in the service of their country. Thus she divides her time between catering to the needs of her family at home and accompanying her daughter who is pursuing her university education in Europe. Her purpose is to make sure that her daughter will emerge as a highly educated individual with modern thinking and attitudes which are in complete harmony with religious teachings and with the heritage and traditions of the Saudi society. The princess does not forget the directions and advice of her father, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul-Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General who succeeded in promoting her self-confidence and her desire to serve her country. He welcomed and encouraged her to join the Manahel Institute. He continuously repeats to her his hope that his grand-daughters will play an effective role in the service of the Kingdom. In my conversation with Princess Reema that took place in her palace in Riyadh, I posed the following questions to her: "In the light of your participation in establishing and managing the Manahel Institute, how do you evaluate its achievement over the last ten years of its existence?" The Princess said that the Institute could not have performed its pioneering and scientific role in society were it not for the great and positive support of the Saudi women and their desire to acquire knowledge and education and to develop their abilities and skills through continuous training and through organizing teaching sessions in the various areas that are important to the woman in her practical and social life. This explains the increasing desire of the Saudi women to join the Institute and benefit from its varied modern training programs. The interviewer: Do you think that women in general and young women in particular are interested in benefiting from the teaching and rehabilitation sessions offered by your Institute? The princess: The Institute assumed the responsibility to provide varied programs that meet the needs of women and the requirements of the labor market and that provide them with the educational and professional training they need in their work. The institute also participated in organizing exhibitions and charity markets that aim at helping those with special needs. All this is done with the support and encouragement of our government at all levels and in all areas. The interviewer: What are the most important points in your program to develop the role of the Institute for the next ten years? The princess: The Institute draws a plan for each of the various educational levels and reviews what has already been achieved by the various programs. The overall purpose is to develop a future strategy that can be implemented every five years. The interviewer: in the west, there is currently a perverted campaign against the Kingdom pretending concern for the role of the Saudi woman and her deprivation of her human rights., how should we respond to this vicious campaign? The princess: This campaign did not deter us from proceeding in our consecutive plans aiming at the development of our human resources of both genders in the public and the private sector. The Saudi woman, inspite of her relatively recent entry into the field of public education, has achieved significant success in all fields of endeavour. The Saudi woman is the sister and the mother and the daughter. She participates as an academic professor in pubic and private educational institutions; you also encounter her as the specialist physician or as the capable consultant. The Saudi woman has also a prominent role as a writer and as an original artist. She also effectively participates in the national debate conferences and she works alongside men in various legal societies such as the Human Rights Society and the Journalists Association. And above all, the Saudi woman has distinguished herself in the charitable work of the charitable societies that are spread across the Kingdom. We currently observe and increasing number of business women working in the economic field. Recent statistics indicate that many young women are studying or getting training in various areas related to the computer and its applications. In conclusion, I repeat that the best response to these distorted campaigns is to proceed in our plans to create a generation of women who will participate in the making of the brilliant future, God willing. The government has taken all the steps that would contribute to the progress of society and to meeting its developmental needs. The interviewer: There is a good deal of talk about reform, part of which deals with the role of women and their nomination to membership in the Shura Council. In you opinion, how should we deal with these sensitive issues and under what circumstances and dates? The princess: Reform in general is a major purpose of our public leaders who appreciate the needs of the people and of society and recognize the public interest and its priorities. The Saudi woman is an important and effective member in the reform process. The interviewer: Do you think that it is better to follow the approach of gradual (or stage by stage) development before membership in the political and national organizations becomes open to women, or that women in the light of their participation alongside men in various fieldwork activities including business pursuits are qualified to work in all fields? The princess: The fair observer cannot help but see the significant progress the Saudi woman has achieved in all the economic, educational, social and cultural areas. She is definitely qualified to carry out her responsibilities in all areas.