Alwaleed Philanthropies has kick-started a series of training programmes to promote legal awareness and strengthen the protection of rights for women and youth in Saudi Arabia. The programmes that have been planned by the organisation that supports the enhancement of human rights and social justice infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and across the world, alongside the Human Rights Commission (HRC), are expected to support over 12,900 beneficiaries.
The partnership between @HRCSaudi_EN and @alwaleed_philan continues to foster engagement at all levels, providing increased #equality and opportunity for women, no matter their goals. This includes vocational training, support, and outreach to #EmpowerWomenKSA pic.twitter.com/1ZNd0czHJ0
— Saudi Embassy UK (@SaudiEmbassyUK) February 21, 2021
A total of eight courses that target female lawyers are set to take place over the course of six months. And the expert-led training will provide a deep understanding of themes relating to human rights and get students familiar with local and international human rights standards. The training schedule by Alwaleed Philanthropies, which is chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud, will also familiarise the lawyers with legal consultation practices and provide support for cases related to domestic violence against women and children. They are expected to support human capital development by enhancing the local workforce to better serve all segments of society.
The launch of the programmes, which align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, was marked by a virtual opening ceremony, attended by HRH Princess Lamia bint Majed Saud Al Saud.
“At Alwaleed Philanthropies, we strongly believe in the importance of empowering and supporting women in all sectors,” HRH Princess Lamia, the Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies, said. “Previously, the legal field in the Arab world, and particularly in Saudi Arabia, was restricted to men. Although we have made significant progress, there is still a need to ensure that women have a voice in the legal sector, as members of the public, lawyers and judges.”
Dr Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, President of the HRC, who was also at the ceremony, said the commission is eager to team up with national, regional and international companies working to enhance and progress efforts to protect human rights. “The commission aims, through such programmes, to integrate an international human rights perspective in the approach of local specialists working to build upon the regional advancement of human rights and the development of localised capacity to support individuals and institutions,” he added.
Alwaleed Philanthropies, which is managed by 10 Saudi female members, has been in involved in 1000-plus projects in over 189 countries throughout the last four decades. Over 1 billion people have benefited from the global social welfare schemes, which are implemented regardless of gender, race, or religion. The charitable group collaborates with a range of philanthropic, governmental, and educational organisations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief and create cultural understanding through education.
Earlier this year, the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU) joined the School of Foreign Services at Georgetown University’s Global Anti-Racism Initiative to provide scholarships for students studying interfaith relations. Through these scholarships and a visiting lecture series, ACMCU aims to further understanding of the impact of systematic racism, ultimately contributing to its reversal.
