The Third National Meeting Recommendations for King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue

The Third National Meeting for intellectual Dialogue Madinah, June 2004
Final Statement and Recommendations

Praise be to Allah and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad, His kens, His companions and whoever follows His guidance.

In pursuance of the efforts of the scholars and intellectuals who have gathered in the first and the second national meetings for intellectual dialogue, King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue organized the third national meeting for intellectual dialogue in the Enlightened Madinah ( of the Prophet ) in the period between 24 to 26 / 4 / 1425 H. corresponding to 12 - 14 June, 2004.

This meeting is considered the third stage of the national dialogue efforts in a process of accumulation to build and establish the culture of dialogue in the Saudi Society. This is so in order to make it a life style and a firm tradition in that society. A number of scholars, intellectuals and cultured people of the make and female citizens who represent varios intellectual views have participated in the meeting.

The participants have studied the topic of "the woman's rights, duties and the education's relationship to that". The topic of dialogue was carefully selected in order to bring out the woman's message and her status in Islam. This also came in response to the direction of HRH Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince, the Deputy Premier and Head of the National Guard, may Allah preserve his life. Besides, this comes in reaction to the distinguished presence of the Saudi woman in the activities of the previous meeting which recommended this topic. There is an apparent concern in the society towards the woman's issues as well.

The meeting research papers were written by specialists from both genders in the Shari'ah, social, psychological, educational, political and economic fields. They were intended to produce a wise and balanced vision in order to reach mechanisms and suggestions to that help decision makers and related society establishments to take appropriate measures which enhance the the woman's role in society and overcome problems facing her in her mach.

The meeting's objective was to study the right and duties of the woman. This dualism constituted a special care of the balance which has been lost by many contemporary views. Woman are the full sisters of men and each one complements the other. With both, this world is to be built and taken care of. They are partners in rights and duties. Their difference is that of type and complement.

The participants, who discuss the rights and duties of the woman, affirm that what they study is in response to the Islamic directions. They fully understand that there is a difference - in objectives, content and motives - between what has been discussed in this meeting.

Thirty - five male and thirty - five female participants from among scholars, intellectuals, educated as well as leaders of intellect and opinion in the kingdom had taken part in this meeting. Besides, nine male and nine female researchers in different specialized fields took part as well.

The participants addressed the theme of the meeting in nine sessions. All sessions were full of free, frank and meaningful discussions of the four main points of the meeting as follows:

The first Point: The woman: Legal Rights and Duties:

This included the issues related to the legal rights and duties for the woman. It addressed the reality of the laws and suggesting the mechanisms that enable the woman to attain her legal and civil rights and duties ( And women shall have right similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable ) the Quran 2:228. It included the conceptions related to the issues of the woman between the habits and customs on one hand and the teachings of the true religion on the other.

The Second Point: The woman and Work:
In this point, the reality and evaluation of issues related to rules and bylaws of the woman's work were discussed. The subject of suitable fields and criteria for the woman's work was discussed as well.

The Third Point: The woman and Education:
In this point, the participants studies the reality of the woman's education in the Saudi Society, the sufficiency of the educational institutions, the diversity of specializations in the woman's college and vocational education. They also studied the topic of the woman's portrayal in educational curricula and her role in building future generations through her educational message.

The Fourth Point: The woman and Society:
This point discussed the woman's social participation, her rights and duties towards the family and the society ( the reality and the hope ). It also discussed the woman's social problems, the development of social services provided for her, family violence and the extent to which the Saudi the woman is suffering from.

After extensive discussions, the dialogue participants reached into confirming the emphases on the established principles while benefiting - in light of them - from any beneficial new matter. There should not be any contradiction of these new matters with the established principles. This, to the participants, is the ideal style of reform. The foundation of the established principles is to take the book ( The Quran ) and the Tradition of the Prophet ( The Sunnah ) as a judge along with preserving the unity of the country. The participants value all the efforts the state has exerted in this regard.

The male and female participants have reached the following recommendations ;

Confirming the great importance of the role of the woman in the family and considering it her basic job. Her work and earning is a legal right guaranteed by Islam.
Confirming the right of the woman in motherhood, and her right in marriage according to the conception of Islam. In that marriage, husband and wife are considered source of comfort for one another where both exchange affection and mercy. The woman has the right in a place of living where she is the guarding and practices in it her natural functions. These are basic right the society must make attainable to the woman and must defend against any circumstance that may prevent them.
Making certain that the relationship between the two genders in Islam is based on cooperation, solidarity and complementarity ( The believing men and women are protectors of one another ). This relationship is not based on fighting or conflict.
The marriage relationship is based on piety, guardianship, obedience, counseling. Guardianship does not mean hegemony and does not nullify the woman's guardianship over herself. Besides, obedience has to be within reasonable limits.
Calling for the establishment of a specialized national commission which is concerned with the woman and family affairs. It should lead the coordination of efforts among government and private institutions.
Working to devise a national plan to create the awareness of the woman rights and to create a national act detailing legal rights and duties of the woman and her role in the family and society. The participants recommend King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue to execute this through forming a committee of specialists in the fields of Shari'ah studies and social studies. This committee shell set right understandings and concepts related to the subject of the woman. This, hopefully, will build a cultural awareness that will distinguish between customs and traditions on the one hand and the Shari'ah rules on the other.
Calling to the review of the woman's status while litigating in courts through the following:
- Enactment of plans to establish family courts so as to provide for the woman the environment suitable for her privacy.
- The expansion in establishing female sections inside courts where woman can be welcomed and their complaints registered.
Confirming that school curricula would include the woman's rights and duties. This shell help spread true understandings of her position in society. Female school curricula shell be formed in a way that suits the woman's nature prepares her for her role in life.
The review and evaluation of specializations in college and vocational education and the opening of new specializations which meet the needs of society and conform to the woman's nature. The meeting also calls for opening new women universities in the various regions along with introducing new educational methods such as distance education and continuing education.
The expansion in establishing women vocational institutes which suits the nature of the woman and achieves a complementary role with development programs.
Working to provide work opportunities and female jobs which will have capacity for the outputs of education and training in a way that ensures a decent life for the family and contributes to securing the objectives of comprehensive development along with benefiting from the technological development and electronic communications to the advancement of the woman's work through distance education.
The review of rules and regulations governing the woman's work and the expansion of its fields in a way that suits the nature of the woman and does not contradict the Shari'ah regulations including the review of the pension, work leaves, part time work, working hours and shifts regulations.
Commissioning the institutions of specializations to study creation of suitable special female public transportation along with suggesting its proper mechanism so that the woman can move with ease and comfort as needed.
The expansion of the woman's participation in expressing her opinion and in participating in the public matter issues according to the Islamic Shari'ah criteria and to the society's social, economic and cultural changes.
Encouraging the establishment of voluntary institutions and organizations which are concerned with the family and solving its problem.
The establishment of female cultural and social centers in the cities, provinces and centers in order to spread awareness among women ranks and to be concerned with developing their abilities. Developing the existing social guidance centers is needed to enable them to provide specialized.
Governmental and charity agencies shell be concerned with the pour woman's problems and providing the necessary support for her and finding self work opportunities which provide decent living ways.
Developing regulations derived from the Islamic Shari'ah and ratifying them to ban all sorts of violence against the woman. This should be joined with holding conferences and seminars to that effect.
Calling on the mass media to expose the woman's issues and introduce her rights, duties and role in building the family and society under a guidance from the light of Islam and its basic principles.
Guidance is in the hands of Allah (God).

Written at al-Madinah al-Munawwarah on 26 / 4 / 1425 H. ( 14 / 6 / 2004 )

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