Some rights activists believe that international exposure of abuses against women would be the most effective way to coerce Riyadh into introducing changes. Others caution that such international scrutiny could backfire and that deeply-rooted traditions within Saudi society need to be weighed when introducing progressive reforms.
Professor of Middle Eastern issues at the American University Kristin Diwan said the ultra-conservative kingdom, in which the strict Wahabi school of Islam is practiced, "is one of the least favorable [of Islamic countries] to women's rights."
Diwan said that, nevertheless, there have been signs of improvement under Saudi King Abdullah's rule.
"We have seen a few changes with the king. This week there has been talk that they might allow women to drive in Saudi Arabia, which would be a historical change," she said, adding, "It looks like the current government is hoping to move things that way. Yet they have always been very cautious, since they have to wait for society to be ready for this as well."
A driving ban on women highly restricts their movement as Saudi Arabia has no public transportation, according to a U.N. report published last December. Lifting this restriction would be one way of giving women more independence, the report recommended.
A U.N. committee on women's rights has offered other recommendations to the Saudi kingdom. They, too, are still pending.
On Jan. 17 the U.N. committee met in Geneva with a delegation of Saudi officials headed by Zeid Bin Abdul Muhsin al-Hussein, vice president of the Human Rights Commission of Saudi Arabia. A report drafted after the meeting said that one of their many concerns was that "neither the [Saudi] constitution, nor other legislation, embodies the principle of equality between women and men."
It also pointed out that the government had made "limited efforts" to end cultural and stereotyped traditions that were discriminatory, such as the concept of male guardianship.
Under this practice, which according to Saudi officials has no legal basis, women have to be accompanied or authorized by a man to perform any task beyond her home. According to the report a women's, "education, work, public activity, and movement are all relying on her male guardian, or mahram," which they are dependent on throughout their lives.
The United Nations also recommended that the government authorities should ban the practice of polygamy, introduce a minimum age for marriage, improve women's literary rate, and fight against domestic violence that is prevalent in the country.
The Middle East Times tried to reach Saudi officials at the embassy of Washington, D.C. to comment on the U.N. evaluation, but no one was available for comments.
Following the report, Yakin Erturk, a U.N. special rapporteur on violence against women, flew to Saudi Arabia to interview government officials, human rights' experts and women victims of violence, AFP has reported.
The international exposure of women's issues in Saudi Arabia is seen positively by Ali Alyami, Washington, D.C.-based director of the Center for Democracy and Human rights in Saudi Arabia.
Alyami, who consistently denounces human rights' violations in his country, said that women would impose change whether the king liked it or not.
"They are talking loudly, they are writing, and becoming educated. It is difficult for the king and his family to silence them without being targeted," Alyami said. "They know how sensitive women's issues are globally and that everyone will demonstrate and protest if they do something. I believe that now they are paying more attention to the international community."
According to Alyami, the Saudis will have to adapt to advances in the region and to global demands.
Diwan also said that there were economical and social changes in the Middle East that Riyadh would have to adapt to. Abdullah was attempting to adapt economic models from other regions, such as Asia, to liberalize his country, but without surrendering political power, she said. These changes might usher in reforms in the area of women's rights.
"It looks like they are pushing for greater liberalism, and the way things are they have to open up to allow women to be involved in the economy," Diwan said. However, she noted that there were "opposition forces" in Saudi Arabia that would resist such reforms. Lifting the driving ban would be an initial significant way of measuring their willingness to adapt, Diwan suggested.
Yvonne Haddad, professor of history of Islam at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, said that the royal family had to maintain a political balance with the religious leaders and thinkers, and that is why long-term traditions could not be changed from one day to another.
"Sometimes outside intervention and pressure is counterproductive," Haddad said. "They will change when they are ready to change."
She added that while some women sought change, other "Saudi women said they wouldn't have it any other way."