My guest this week is Lama Ghazzawi a member of the Human Rights Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
We talk about the continuing of women becoming a bigger part of the key decision makers in the Kingdom and how there is a very bright future for the young women who want to become leaders in their fields of study.
Saudi women have been thriving over the years, where their achievements in 2021 have increased to 31.8% in labor force, and over 41% in civil service, and their occupation to senior position in the work force upgraded to 30%, especially after the 2030 vision which empowers women and creates so many opportunities in the country and for the female population in a higher grade.
Saudi women have made impacts in different fields, sectors, and majors.
It also has been announced that there will be female judges in 2021 and the upcoming years.
Females can now major in Petroleum and Minerals studies and become certified engineers in Saudi, and so much more to thrive from and on.
2022 will have more and more achievements from what it looks like til’ this moment.
We talk about the continuing of women becoming a bigger part of the key decision makers in the Kingdom and how there is a very bright future for the young women who want to become leaders in their fields of study.
Saudi women have been thriving over the years, where their achievements in 2021 have increased to 31.8% in labor force, and over 41% in civil service, and their occupation to senior position in the work force upgraded to 30%, especially after the 2030 vision which empowers women and creates so many opportunities in the country and for the female population in a higher grade.
Saudi women have made impacts in different fields, sectors, and majors.
It also has been announced that there will be female judges in 2021 and the upcoming years.
Females can now major in Petroleum and Minerals studies and become certified engineers in Saudi, and so much more to thrive from and on.
2022 will have more and more achievements from what it looks like til’ this moment.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Everyone, welcome to this edition ofthe Politically Incorrect Podcast. I'm Jim Williams,
your host. Not today, wehave someone who's very special. Her
name is Lama Zowie. She's amember of the Council of the Human Rights
Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Now, Lama, welcome, and
you know, I know that you'vebeen working along with your commission to advance
(00:23):
the rights of women in the kingdomand you've had some very good success.
Let's talk first about what the Commissiondoes. Okay, thank you, Jim.
So, we have been appointed inJuly at lying two years now.
(00:43):
We get appointed by the king andwe are around twenty six members, fifty
percent of us our females. Wesupport and taken to on our account the
support of the regulations and the implementationsof any rules and the policies and programs
(01:12):
that handle human rights in the Kingdom. All the agreements that the Kingdom signs
with external parties on human rights.We also review those, give our recommendations
and our comments, et cetera.So we do also manage those. We
(01:36):
also support all areas within the Kingdom, whether it's ministries, municipalities. Uh.
You know, authorities that take care, for example, of the disabled,
et cetera, we support them inthe implementation of the rules, in
managing the complaints, for example,when it comes to certain human rights aspects.
(02:00):
So UM. In essence, wedo not set the rules, but
we support the implementation and the gapsdiscussions UH with with the authorities that are
actually responsible and accountable for these regulations. Well, now, you and your
organization have done a very good jobof increasing the number of women and their
(02:24):
involvement in the you know, inthe Kingdom over the past few years.
Why don't you speak about some ofthe advancements, UM. You see,
Jim, the the empowerment of Saudiwomen UM is in the heart of the
Kingdom's vision twenty thirty. UM.You know, there's been several reforms and
(02:49):
you know, regulatory changes in manyfields that really enhanced women's rights, support
systems, care programs, et cetera. I mean, leading to the improvement
of the workforce and environment and thecontribution in many sectors by by the females.
So I mean we can list youknow, a few of these decisions.
To be honest, strengthening women's rights, we have you know, the
(03:10):
empowerment and education and training, femalehealth, social support, women in justice,
in business and politics, etc.So as a result, you know,
of the support, um, theachievements of Saudi women so far have
been very visible, um and impactful. And you know, whether it's in
(03:30):
the involvement in the labor force,civil service, occupation of senior positions,
involvement in many fields and sectors youknow, political, military, judicial.
Uh. You know, we nowhave you know, females going into petroleum
and mineral studies. So really Ican say we're everywhere. Now there's no
(03:53):
limit to what you know, theSaudi female can be involved in. We're
very proud of our achievements and we'rereally very confident that you know, the
previous focus and the current focus wellyou know, and the support we're getting,
we definitely can can thrive even more. We you know, I have
six nieces, okay, and herein the United States, um, where
(04:18):
we're thought to be a forward countryin this aspect um, it's still a
difficult slug here in the United Statesfor women to get ahead. And so
it's very um in in you know, enlightening in and wonderful to hear that
(04:41):
not only in the Kingdom, butthroughout the world that women are now beginning
to get a foothold. Jim,I'm sorry, I lost two Sorry,
can you hear me now, Yes, Okay, I'm sorry. What I
was saying is that I have sixnieces here in the United States, and
it's good to see, I mean, even here in the United States,
(05:04):
we are still woefully behind in theability for women to be recognized for their
achievements. And it's good to seeon a global basis, through your organization
and others, that this is notjust something that's going on in Saudi,
in the in the in the Kingdom, but throughout the throughout the world.
(05:28):
At this point in time, it'skind of a global initiative that we all
share that we want to see morewomen involved in as many aspects of business
and daily life as we possibly can. Exactly, and the and the focus
that um the leaders of the countryhave put on supporting and empowering women and
(05:56):
showing the capabilities of this very importantpart of the population has really paid off
very quickly, because you know,throughout the years, it's not like we
have not been doing anything, orwe've just been sidelined, or you know,
it just came out of nowhere.We've been around, you know,
and contributing to the economy, tothe you know, to the prosperity of
(06:20):
the kingdom for quite some time.It's now just being publicized, exposed,
it's being talked about, it's beingreally a center of focus. But I'll
tell you I've I've been in theworkforce for around twenty years. I became
a CFO of a big bank,you know. Well, you know,
(06:41):
before you know, all this started, a lot of my colleagues, female
colleagues and female friends have also beenin very senior positions. Now it's really
more focused and organized and structured wayof support that we are getting, and
the KPIs and the targets that Visiontwenty thirty have put around that have actually
(07:03):
supported the acceleration of such kind ofsupport and visibility. You know. Um,
we've spoken to a number of peoplebefore about the twenty thirty project.
Why not if you would just encapsualizesome of that vision of the twenty thirty
project. Um. So, thevision has a lot of the angles.
(07:27):
Um it touches upon, It touchesupon the um you know, the business
side, the economic side, thewell being and the prosperity of the Saudi
citizen. Uh. It touches uponuh you know all you know, many
business sectors, whether the financial sectoror the hospitality or the medical sector.
(07:50):
So really it is a very comprehensiveset of uh you know, many visions
that come across come you know togetherto formulate a very um, you know,
ambitious vision for the kingdom. Umit has um as as I said,
it has a lot of focus fromthe leaders, um and from everybody
(08:15):
who's handling all these many um youknow we call them, and they're called
vision realization programs. So under eachof the big themes or under each vision
realization program, there are several themesand um and and many initiatives that lead
up to them to the success ofthis vision. So it really touches upon
(08:37):
um as I said, education,hospitality, medical, UM, entertainment,
you know, the religious, tourism, UM, the financial sector, UM
you know, you name it.So it's really an end to end transformation
project as we call it, right, and I believe there's even sports in
(08:58):
there as well as well. Howabsolutely absolutely, um you know, a
big cornerstone of this uh you knowvision is really you know everything that the
Saudi citizen and and the Saudi residents, I mean the residents of the Saudi
Kingdom, UM need or uh thrivefor or utilized, et cetera. So,
(09:20):
whether it's sport, whether it isentertainment, hospitality, UM, I
mean tourism for example. Uh youknow, Saudia has been known to be
only religious tourism. Uh you knowdestination. Now we're talking about tourism across.
We have sides in the kingdom thatare you know, like version sides.
So uh, everybody is very excitedabout being um in Ala for example,
(09:43):
it's an amazing place um for tourism. Um. So UM. You
know, we we do have alot of potential in the kingdom. And
now with the structured program and vision, we're really just making sure that this
is all now U being you know, well planned and and and and exposed
properly. What are some of thethings that have from from your standpoint,
(10:11):
someone who's been in this now,as you said, for twenty years,
what are some of the things thathave really impressed you about the women of
the kingdom. Uh A many things. I think I can go on and
on, but I think what impressedso you know, take I know I
(10:35):
know, UM, I think thatthe you know, what impresses is the
the ability of the Saudi women toembrace change to UM, to embrace transformation,
UH, to be able to quicklyshow um you know, the capabilities
(10:56):
and the potential UM and to andto up you know, to the changes.
This is definitely something that impressed mebecause UM, you know, the
the the you know, the verylow level of resistance that we got even
from our support systems and from ouruh you know, surroundings was also an
(11:18):
enabler. UM. So you know, the the uh you know, definitely,
you know, on top of whatimpresses us is uh you know,
the the language and the tone fromthe top. Definitely. It's funny.
A few years ago Georgetown University,I had a chance to speak and we
were talking UM. It was aninternational studies group and there was uh students
(11:41):
there from from a kingdom. Andwhat I was impressed with so much was
their level of dedication to study.UM. They were very serious about their
studies and and that has always impressedme. You're absolutely right, UM,
(12:03):
we do value UM you know,the studies, the uh you know,
the education, the further development.UM. You'll see, you know,
people who are you know, nottoo young and still um you know,
the demanding development and and and askingfor for more education. So it is
something embedded in the DNA of theculture definitely. Well, it's something we
(12:28):
can all learn from, you know. UM, we're never too old to
learn. And I think that's soas we get ready here to wrap things
up, UM, what are someof the takeaways? What are some of
the things you want people to knowabout what's going on in the kingdom and
why it's important that they understand that, you know, what's going on right
(12:50):
now is a very important part ofhow the world will be shaped for the
next generation. UM. I thinkvery important to understand that the changes and
the reforms and the development that weare going through, UM are you know
coming from from inside, from thewill of the people. From uh.
(13:15):
You know, having understood and appreciatedthe potential that we have and the investment
and such potential UH is really gonnayou know be very um, very obvious,
and we'll pay off for the kingdom. We're doing these things from our
people, for our people, umuh and and from within UM. I
(13:35):
also would like you know, everybodyoutside the kingdom to understand that we are
very very proud of what we haveleached and accomplished, and this is not
the end of it. We havea lot more, uh you know,
to show of of what the Saudipeople can do. Well there you go.
(13:56):
Well, thank you so much forjoining us in promise that you'll come
back and talk to us more whenthe time comes that you want to get
some more information out. We're morethan happy to always speak to you and
to find out more about the project. So best of luck and wonderful and
a station. Thank you very much, Jim, thank you for having me
(14:20):
and hopeful speak so and also thankyou special thanks to our special guest,
Lama Gazowe, member of the Councilof Human Rights Commission in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. All the information onLama and what she is doing is in
our showbox below. Thank you verymuch today for joining us on this edition
(14:41):
of the Politically Incorrect Podcast with JimWilliams. Until next time, have a
wonderful and a safe day.
Everyone, welcome to this edition ofthe Politically Incorrect Podcast. I'm Jim Williams,
your host. Not today, wehave someone who's very special. Her
name is Lama Zowie. She's amember of the Council of the Human Rights
Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Now, Lama, welcome, and
you know, I know that you'vebeen working along with your commission to advance
(00:23):
the rights of women in the kingdomand you've had some very good success.
Let's talk first about what the Commissiondoes. Okay, thank you, Jim.
So, we have been appointed inJuly at lying two years now.
(00:43):
We get appointed by the king andwe are around twenty six members, fifty
percent of us our females. Wesupport and taken to on our account the
support of the regulations and the implementationsof any rules and the policies and programs
(01:12):
that handle human rights in the Kingdom. All the agreements that the Kingdom signs
with external parties on human rights.We also review those, give our recommendations
and our comments, et cetera.So we do also manage those. We
(01:36):
also support all areas within the Kingdom, whether it's ministries, municipalities. Uh.
You know, authorities that take care, for example, of the disabled,
et cetera, we support them inthe implementation of the rules, in
managing the complaints, for example,when it comes to certain human rights aspects.
(02:00):
So UM. In essence, wedo not set the rules, but
we support the implementation and the gapsdiscussions UH with with the authorities that are
actually responsible and accountable for these regulations. Well, now, you and your
organization have done a very good jobof increasing the number of women and their
(02:24):
involvement in the you know, inthe Kingdom over the past few years.
Why don't you speak about some ofthe advancements, UM. You see,
Jim, the the empowerment of Saudiwomen UM is in the heart of the
Kingdom's vision twenty thirty. UM.You know, there's been several reforms and
(02:49):
you know, regulatory changes in manyfields that really enhanced women's rights, support
systems, care programs, et cetera. I mean, leading to the improvement
of the workforce and environment and thecontribution in many sectors by by the females.
So I mean we can list youknow, a few of these decisions.
To be honest, strengthening women's rights, we have you know, the
(03:10):
empowerment and education and training, femalehealth, social support, women in justice,
in business and politics, etc.So as a result, you know,
of the support, um, theachievements of Saudi women so far have
been very visible, um and impactful. And you know, whether it's in
(03:30):
the involvement in the labor force,civil service, occupation of senior positions,
involvement in many fields and sectors youknow, political, military, judicial.
Uh. You know, we nowhave you know, females going into petroleum
and mineral studies. So really Ican say we're everywhere. Now there's no
(03:53):
limit to what you know, theSaudi female can be involved in. We're
very proud of our achievements and we'rereally very confident that you know, the
previous focus and the current focus wellyou know, and the support we're getting,
we definitely can can thrive even more. We you know, I have
six nieces, okay, and herein the United States, um, where
(04:18):
we're thought to be a forward countryin this aspect um, it's still a
difficult slug here in the United Statesfor women to get ahead. And so
it's very um in in you know, enlightening in and wonderful to hear that
(04:41):
not only in the Kingdom, butthroughout the world that women are now beginning
to get a foothold. Jim,I'm sorry, I lost two Sorry,
can you hear me now, Yes, Okay, I'm sorry. What I
was saying is that I have sixnieces here in the United States, and
it's good to see, I mean, even here in the United States,
(05:04):
we are still woefully behind in theability for women to be recognized for their
achievements. And it's good to seeon a global basis, through your organization
and others, that this is notjust something that's going on in Saudi,
in the in the in the Kingdom, but throughout the throughout the world.
(05:28):
At this point in time, it'skind of a global initiative that we all
share that we want to see morewomen involved in as many aspects of business
and daily life as we possibly can. Exactly, and the and the focus
that um the leaders of the countryhave put on supporting and empowering women and
(05:56):
showing the capabilities of this very importantpart of the population has really paid off
very quickly, because you know,throughout the years, it's not like we
have not been doing anything, orwe've just been sidelined, or you know,
it just came out of nowhere.We've been around, you know,
and contributing to the economy, tothe you know, to the prosperity of
(06:20):
the kingdom for quite some time.It's now just being publicized, exposed,
it's being talked about, it's beingreally a center of focus. But I'll
tell you I've I've been in theworkforce for around twenty years. I became
a CFO of a big bank,you know. Well, you know,
(06:41):
before you know, all this started, a lot of my colleagues, female
colleagues and female friends have also beenin very senior positions. Now it's really
more focused and organized and structured wayof support that we are getting, and
the KPIs and the targets that Visiontwenty thirty have put around that have actually
(07:03):
supported the acceleration of such kind ofsupport and visibility. You know. Um,
we've spoken to a number of peoplebefore about the twenty thirty project.
Why not if you would just encapsualizesome of that vision of the twenty thirty
project. Um. So, thevision has a lot of the angles.
(07:27):
Um it touches upon, It touchesupon the um you know, the business
side, the economic side, thewell being and the prosperity of the Saudi
citizen. Uh. It touches uponuh you know all you know, many
business sectors, whether the financial sectoror the hospitality or the medical sector.
(07:50):
So really it is a very comprehensiveset of uh you know, many visions
that come across come you know togetherto formulate a very um, you know,
ambitious vision for the kingdom. Umit has um as as I said,
it has a lot of focus fromthe leaders, um and from everybody
(08:15):
who's handling all these many um youknow we call them, and they're called
vision realization programs. So under eachof the big themes or under each vision
realization program, there are several themesand um and and many initiatives that lead
up to them to the success ofthis vision. So it really touches upon
(08:37):
um as I said, education,hospitality, medical, UM, entertainment,
you know, the religious, tourism, UM, the financial sector, UM
you know, you name it.So it's really an end to end transformation
project as we call it, right, and I believe there's even sports in
(08:58):
there as well as well. Howabsolutely absolutely, um you know, a
big cornerstone of this uh you knowvision is really you know everything that the
Saudi citizen and and the Saudi residents, I mean the residents of the Saudi
Kingdom, UM need or uh thrivefor or utilized, et cetera. So,
(09:20):
whether it's sport, whether it isentertainment, hospitality, UM, I
mean tourism for example. Uh youknow, Saudia has been known to be
only religious tourism. Uh you knowdestination. Now we're talking about tourism across.
We have sides in the kingdom thatare you know, like version sides.
So uh, everybody is very excitedabout being um in Ala for example,
(09:43):
it's an amazing place um for tourism. Um. So UM. You
know, we we do have alot of potential in the kingdom. And
now with the structured program and vision, we're really just making sure that this
is all now U being you know, well planned and and and and exposed
properly. What are some of thethings that have from from your standpoint,
(10:11):
someone who's been in this now,as you said, for twenty years,
what are some of the things thathave really impressed you about the women of
the kingdom. Uh A many things. I think I can go on and
on, but I think what impressedso you know, take I know I
(10:35):
know, UM, I think thatthe you know, what impresses is the
the ability of the Saudi women toembrace change to UM, to embrace transformation,
UH, to be able to quicklyshow um you know, the capabilities
(10:56):
and the potential UM and to andto up you know, to the changes.
This is definitely something that impressed mebecause UM, you know, the
the the you know, the verylow level of resistance that we got even
from our support systems and from ouruh you know, surroundings was also an
(11:18):
enabler. UM. So you know, the the uh you know, definitely,
you know, on top of whatimpresses us is uh you know,
the the language and the tone fromthe top. Definitely. It's funny.
A few years ago Georgetown University,I had a chance to speak and we
were talking UM. It was aninternational studies group and there was uh students
(11:41):
there from from a kingdom. Andwhat I was impressed with so much was
their level of dedication to study.UM. They were very serious about their
studies and and that has always impressedme. You're absolutely right, UM,
(12:03):
we do value UM you know,the studies, the uh you know,
the education, the further development.UM. You'll see, you know,
people who are you know, nottoo young and still um you know,
the demanding development and and and askingfor for more education. So it is
something embedded in the DNA of theculture definitely. Well, it's something we
(12:28):
can all learn from, you know. UM, we're never too old to
learn. And I think that's soas we get ready here to wrap things
up, UM, what are someof the takeaways? What are some of
the things you want people to knowabout what's going on in the kingdom and
why it's important that they understand that, you know, what's going on right
(12:50):
now is a very important part ofhow the world will be shaped for the
next generation. UM. I thinkvery important to understand that the changes and
the reforms and the development that weare going through, UM are you know
coming from from inside, from thewill of the people. From uh.
(13:15):
You know, having understood and appreciatedthe potential that we have and the investment
and such potential UH is really gonnayou know be very um, very obvious,
and we'll pay off for the kingdom. We're doing these things from our
people, for our people, umuh and and from within UM. I
(13:35):
also would like you know, everybodyoutside the kingdom to understand that we are
very very proud of what we haveleached and accomplished, and this is not
the end of it. We havea lot more, uh you know,
to show of of what the Saudipeople can do. Well there you go.
(13:56):
Well, thank you so much forjoining us in promise that you'll come
back and talk to us more whenthe time comes that you want to get
some more information out. We're morethan happy to always speak to you and
to find out more about the project. So best of luck and wonderful and
a station. Thank you very much, Jim, thank you for having me
(14:20):
and hopeful speak so and also thankyou special thanks to our special guest,
Lama Gazowe, member of the Councilof Human Rights Commission in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. All the information onLama and what she is doing is in
our showbox below. Thank you verymuch today for joining us on this edition
(14:41):
of the Politically Incorrect Podcast with JimWilliams. Until next time, have a
wonderful and a safe day.
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