Under the direction of the Note: The names of the women have been changed in this report in order to protect their identity. "I ...
Under the direction of the Note: The names of the women have been changed in this report in order to protect their identity.
"I am a dead soul in a living body, and I hope it will not happen to my little sister," Sara, a Saudi woman told CNN.
Sara is a growing of a number of Saudi women who challenge the system of male guardianship in the country with social media.
In Saudi Arabia, every woman has a male guardian - usually a parent or a spouse, sometimes a sibling or child - who has to take a number of important decisions in its name the power.
After talking with dozens of Saudi women, Human Rights Watch found in July that the system "the most important rights for women Disabled reality in the country."
Chirping for change
The HRW report, which describes how women need permission from a male guardian to travel, to marry, and sometimes at work or access to health care was followed by a social media campaign, #TogetherToEndMaleGuardianship.
In September, the Arabic version of the hashtag had acquired a life of its own, with women across the country who risk the wrath of their guard or even persecution.
Some dressed in abayas, posters car photos send SMS messages as: "Slavery takes many forms and shapes of male guardianship, is an" Other Post photos on the cover of his Saudi passport with statements like:. "I am a prisoner and my crime is that I am Saudi woman."
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Women are noticed. Main religious authority in the country in early September, the Grand Mufti, the so-called social media campaign "a crime Saudi society and Muslims targeting" and said that the protection system should be maintained.
"Women are trapped here"
"Here, the women are trapped, can not do anything. It's depends on your tutor if he is good, and he is a good man who will no longer work, or leave it examined, which is a fundamental right. If this does not the case to prevent it, "said a Saudi woman who spoke on condition of anonymity to CNN.
His comments reflect the opinions of others and the results of the HRW report. The fate of a woman, regardless of their socioeconomic status, is in the hands of her guardian, so that smaller-aged adult women who can not make decisions for themselves.
The Saudi government did not respond to CNN requests for comment.
Women are under the tutelage of his father first, until they marry and the husband custody transfers.
Breaking Free
Getting rid of an abusive guardian is very difficult found HRW. The filing of a complaint with the police against a guardian can be difficult, and sometimes when a woman went to complain, called the police or sent women to their caregivers.
Tutors must also issue or renewal of passports to approve that a woman's ability to travel restricted.
Jana, a Saudi woman who spoke with CNN to study for several years outside Saudi Arabia. On a recent visit home, his family was informed that he was not allowed to leave their studies to complete.
"You have my passport from me, they did everything for me, my documents," he said.
Salma, a Saudi woman who lives in the West and seek asylum, he said would not feel safe if they returned home.
"No one takes seriously, unless you are a man, legally. I can not do anything, no matter how old I am. So if my father will not approve it, it will not happen."
"I gave a lot of my dreams, because I know for sure my father will not approve. And the system is on your side, so why fight it, is not it? One of them was a rider and learning to be the piano . these simple wishes for a young girl are living in the west, but in my culture these hobbies are behind our conservative culture, "he said.
But even thousands of miles away, Salma still feel the system to protect against shock. A recent visit to the Saudi Arabian Embassy your passport renewed requires a notarized signature of his father, his teacher. Luckily for them, he forced something that would not have happened if he had known he was seeking asylum, he said.
The pressure on the men
Myriam, another woman in Saudi Arabia, who spoke with CNN, said she had, what a family "open minded" was considered there. Myriam guardian of his father's, you can go to college, and privately support a change in the laws.
"My father thinks [the protection system] is really a problem, recognize it, and he always told me:" If I have done something wrong if you mistreated just because you are a woman, you tell me that " , she said." he knows the way we live, is not the right way. "
However, not open to express their opinion Myriam father, because he fears the reaction of others in the community.
Another woman told CNN that his father was forced to leave his studies abroad.
"My father did not really conservative it is itself but the social pressure sometimes get the better of him," he said.
Attempts to reform
Saudi Arabia reforms limited to women's rights in recent years, attempts. Local elections last year were the first in the history of the country, where women were allowed to run for office and to vote.
"The practice of male guardianship in its many forms, all limits and in some cases the application of a number of women's human rights destroys," Human Rights Watch said, including the violation of the UN Convention brings about the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, the it ratified in 2000th
"Saudi Arabia is the world" Jana, of Saudi women who spoke to CNN. "Nothing changes."
She said that the attempts of countries reforms were to keep only partially and behind them the international community.
Prompts change at home and abroad
Pressure, designed emerged from a Saudi artist who goes by the name "Mrs. Saffaa" in 2012, one of the most common images of the current campaign of social media.
"I'm not surprised to see my work gain a lot of attention since it was launched the campaign," said the artist, who lives outside the country.
"It is a work that informs reflects a very personal position by personal history and deep connection with the subject."
Saffaa described the current campaign for basic social media as "unprecedented" and "unprecedented" and said it "will not stop unless the Saudi government revokes the laws of guardianship men."
