Women take the wheel in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian women grabbed the attention of international media today as they participated in a campaign to protest a ban on female drivers. While no law in Saudi Arabia specifically prohibits women from driving, women are banned from receiving drivers licences and religious decrees discourage them from operating vehicles. Saudi Arabia is currently the only country in the world that does not allow women to drive.

Saudi women have become very active on social media in the past few months, raising awareness for their campaign and urging other Saudi women to get behind the wheel on October 26. Nearly 17,000 people signed an online petition in support of the campaign for change. The site has since been hacked, but that didn't stop Saudi women from taking action. According to CNN, at least 35 women posted YouTube videos of themselves driving on the streets of Saudi Arabia today.

I think this campaign was remarkable and extremely brave. Several women were issued warnings by local police and had to sign a pledge promising they would not drive again, but I think they were successful in raising awareness and support for the lifting of the ban. The number of women who actually drove today may have been small, but the social media activity was obviously enough to grab the attention of Saudi Arabia officials as well as international media. I believe these women have sparked a necessary conversation around the globe, which is the first step to initiating reform.