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A significant amount of domestic violence towards women in Saudi Arabia is related to their lack of autonomy in their own lives. An example of this is male guardianship, which requires a woman to have a male guardian present to make significant decisions such as travel, marriage and legal transactions.

Guardianship of women
A form of domestic violence that is prominent for women in Saudi Arabia is male guardianship which is also known as Mahram. This system of guardianship by males results in a fully-grown woman being treated as a minor with minimal or no power over their own lives. This system is discussed as existing from social conventions and also the requirements from religion. These types of restrictions include travelling and to whom they marry. Women also find difficulty in making transactions without their male guardian present such as signing contracts for a rental property. A male guardian can be one of a variety of people such as a father, husband or son. As discussed by the Human Rights Watch, a divorced woman whose father is deceased would then have their son as their guardian. In this particular report a woman was placed under the guardianship of her 23 year old son. This is not only an issue of domestic violence but also Women's rights in Saudi Arabia.

As discussed by Yakin Ertürk in their report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, there are various reactions to this system by women living in Saudi Arabia. Some believe that this system is necessary for their protection and feel pampered by their male guardian. However, many believe it limits their lives to a severe extent. Guardianship severely limits women’s autonomy, freedom of movement and the exercise of their legal capacity in situations such as marriage. This also impacts their more personal decisions such as decision-making in family matters, education and employment. A woman was arguably not considered to have had an identification prior to 2013, where no woman was issued an identity card as they would be registered alongside their guardian on that male’s identification documents.

Although not strictly binding in Saudi Arabian law, there are still many sectors of society that require a guardian for somewhat mundane tasks. In the Human Rights Watch report from 2008 they discuss that even if there is no law regarding a decision, the kingdom gives a heavy portion of decision-making to a woman’s male guardian. It is also discussed that while the government has taken steps to prevent such limitations for women, there is minimal evidence that they are being implemented into society. It has been discussed that even in instances of medical procedures which is an individual’s decision in other countries, this is regularly left to the guardian to decide for the women in question. This will especially be the case if the hospital or medical centre is administered by religious conservatives. There have been cases discussed by Hammond that include a woman running the risk of facing criminal charges for having an extramarital affair if she enters the hospital to give birth without her male guardian.

Recent developments in the guardianship system
Although guardianship and other forms of domestic violence are still present in Saudi Arabia, there have been several attempts of reform and triumph in recent years. These issues have been recognised at a domestic level by King Abdullah, King Salman and government of Saudi Arabia alongside international institutions such as the United Nations.

The United Nations has become involved in the attempted abolition of this system. A report was conducted in 2009 titled the ‘Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences’. This report included recommendations to the Saudi Arabian government in terms of guardianship. Recommendation (a) point 3 recommends “Take measures, including through awareness-raising campaigns, to end the practice of guardianship and abolish existing legal provisions that require a guardian’s authorization, such as those pertaining to women’s travel or access to services or employment.”

This was also discussed in a report from 2008 by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women CEDAW, which reported on issues found in Saudi Arabia. The report discusses relevant issues of male guardianship for women including personal status such as marriage, divorce and child custody. They also discuss how the guardianship system encourages the patriarchal ideology in society which further discriminates against women. In concluding comment 16 of the report, the committee urges the state of Saudi Arabia to take immediate steps to abolish the male guardianship system. CEDAW comment that awareness campaigns should be created and that the state should produce a strict timetable with steps to ensure the modify or eliminate practices that discriminate against women in Saudi Arabia.

A case that displays a change in regard to a woman’s ability to marry was displayed in 2010. This case involved the highest court in Saudi Arabia overturning a decision from five years prior that ruled to annul the marriage between 36 year old woman Fatima Azzaz and her husband. When wanting to marry it is customary in Saudi Arabia for the woman’s guardian to look into the suitors background, which Ms Azzaz’s male relatives did in this case. They were unsatisfied with his tribal background and so with their opinion had attempted to have the marriage annulled, and were successful in 2005. This movement began after the Human Rights Watch report from 2008 and was started by women who had been fighting the system for over a decade. Activist Aziza Al-Yousef stated that “women should be treated as a full citizen.” With the report and the hashtag on social media site Twitter, a Saudi woman Hala Aldosari wrote a petition that quickly gathered 14,682 signatures after being promoted heavily online under the hashtag. . The Saudi King also received approximately 2500 direct telegrams in relation to this petition and the matter of guardianship in their country. In the petition, Aldosari addressed King Salman and urged him to consider the impact the guardianship system had on women of poverty, exploitation and domestic violence.

Since the United Nation Human Rights Council universal period reviews of Saudi Arabia’s human rights policies in 2009 and 2013, the government has agreed to work towards abolishing the guardianship system. Since this small steps have been taken to lessen control over women by their guardians alongside enactment of laws criminalising domestic violence.