REVIEW OF THE SAUDI ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAW: EVOLUTION AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Sexual harassment in Saudi Arabia is a significant problem that mainly affects women in society. Sexual harassment of women is detrimental and undermines society's security and social harmony. While Saudi Arabia is a conservative and religious nation, there is sexual harassment of women. It impacts the well-being of women as well as their social involvement in society when it happens. It is therefore crucial that lawmakers pass laws and determine as soon as possible severe punishments on sexual harassment. The enactment of a sexual harassment law will help spread security in society and will serve as a deterrent to such wrongful behaviour by determining an explicit punishment. In May 2018, Saudi Arabia approved the Anti-Harassment Law. On Tuesday, May 29, 2018, the Saudi Arabian Council of Ministers, which is the formal authority of Saudi Arabia's executive branch, approved the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law; just one day after ratification of the 150-seat Shura Council, which serves as the official advisory body (Parliament) of the Kingdom. The Law includes stringent punishments on perpetrators committing sexual actions. It also includes increased penalties for crimes committed against people with special needs and other situations. The Law also focuses on harassment that occurs through social media platforms. From such a Law, one can deduce that the country considered sexual harassment as a serious issue and saw the need to combat it. Following the deductive approach, this study aimed to discuss the evolution and challenges that hindered the promulgation of the Anti-Harassment Law and why the long-overdue Law took this long to be passed.