Saudi women push to end guardianship
A petition signed by more than 14,000 Saudi women calling for an end to the male guardianship system has been handed to the Saudi government.
Women must have the consent of a male guardian to travel abroad, and often need permission to work or study.
Support for the first large-scale campaign on the issue grew online in response to a trending Twitter hashtag.
Activist Aziza Al-Yousef, who delivered the petition, said she felt "very proud" but now needed a response.
In the deeply conservative Islamic kingdom, a woman must have permission from her father, brother or other male relative - or in the case of a widow, sometimes her son - to obtain a passport, marry or leave the country.
Many workplaces and universities also demand a guardian's consent for female employees and students, although it is not legally required.
Renting a flat, undergoing hospital treatment or filing a legal claim often also require a male guardian's permission, and there is very little recourse for women whose guardians abuse them or severely limit their freedom.
In July, an Arabic Twitter hashtag which translates as "Saudi women want to abolish the guardianship system" went viral after a Human Rights Watch report was published on the issue. Saudi women tweeted comments, videos and artwork calling for change. Bracelets saying "I Am My Own Guardian" appeared.
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