Saudi women called to meet at border in challenge of travel restrictions

This is the first in my Agents of Change Series which looks at people, organizations and institutions which are moving forward on progress in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and how everyone - regardless of gender, beliefs or geography can make a difference.

If Saudi activist Wajeha al-Huwaider has her way, the border crossings of Saudi Arabia will soon be teeming with Saudi women trying to get out.

And not just get out, but get out on their own, without the required “permission slip” from their male guardian.

It’s a bold call to action which al-Huwaider has taken herself.

For three consecutive days last month, she attempted to cross the border between Saudi and Bahrain without a signed permission slip. Three attempts and three failures. Each time she was turned away by authorities who insisted that the permission slip is legally required for her to travel. (Whether it is or not seems a bit subjective, btw)

Undeterred, Al-Hiwaider has vowed to try crossing the border between Saudi and Bahrain without a permission slip every weekend, and has called on other women to join her.

Speaking to CNN about this more proactive attempt to move forward the issues of women’s rights, al-Huwaider had this to say:

"It's not about just sending messages and petitions anymore. We're not going to send any letters to anyone. Saudi women have to find someone who will take them to an airport or a border and say that they don't approve of the system and that they want to leave."

She said that her mission is more than just an act of civil disobedience.

"Most of the people think I'm doing it just to allow women to travel without permission," says Al-Huwaider. "But I keep telling women that it's the whole system that needs to be changed."

For their part, the government of Saudi has made at least initial progress on the archaic and discriminatory system of gender apartheid and segregration.

Back in February, for example, it accepted a United Nations recommendation to “take steps to end the system of male guardianship over women, to give full legal identity to Saudi women, and prohibit gender discrimination.”

It also reaffirmed that the Shari'a concept of male guardianship over women is not a legal requirement, and that "Islam guarantees a woman's right to conduct her affairs and enjoy her legal capacity."

Now the people and the powers-that-be in Saudi just need to honor both the promise and the premise of a non-segregated Kingdom, according to Nisha Varia, deputy director of the women’s rights division at Human Rights Watch.

"Saudi women have waited a long time for these changes. Now they need concrete action so that these commitments do not remain words on paper in Geneva, but are felt by Saudi women in their daily lives."

And that, apparently, is the message Al-Huwaider hopes to send by meeting other women - hopefully a lot of other women - at the border.

What change do you want to see in your world, your community, yourself? What are you willing to do in order to see that change achieved? What aren't you willing to do?