SAUDI ARABIA RESPONSE TO WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT INFORMATION REQUEST

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLAS RIYADH 008787 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SASHA MEHRA AND GERDA LANE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, KWMN, UNGA, SA SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA RESPONSE TO WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT INFORMATION REQUEST REF: SECSTATE 178055 1. (U) Post delivered reftel Fact Sheet on Summary Recommendations of the Women's Empowerment Working Session to Talal Barri at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 6. He indicated interest in the follow up activities to the Working Session. Post also delivered reftel Fact Sheet via diplomatic note to the SAG on November 6. Post requested additional feedback from the SAG on possible projects, partnerships, or activities to promote the empowerment of women. 2. (U) It is noteworthy that Post nominated the 14 Saudi businesswomen participants for the 2006 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Businesswomen's Summit to Advance Leadership and Entrepreneurship Skills of Arab Women held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates October 29- November 1. This conference addressed many topics in the Fact Sheet on Summary Recommendations. 3. (U) Per reftel request, below is a list of Ministers engaged in women's issues addressed in the Fact Sheet. Please note that there is no separate Ministry for women's issues. - Minister of Foreign Affairs: HRH Prince Saud al-Faisal - Minister of Education: GE Dr. Abdullah Salih al-Obaid - Minister of Information and Culture: Iyad bin Amin Madani - Minister of Commerce: HE Hashim bin Abdullah al-Yamani - Minister of Labor: Dr. Ghazi bin Abdulrahman Al Gosaibi - Minister of Social Affairs: Dr. Abdulmoshin bin Abdul Aziz al-Akkas OBERWETTER