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Saudi Arabia: Difference between revisions
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'''OVERVIEW''' | '''OVERVIEW''' | ||
As a conservative Islamic country, Saudi Arabia provides some sexual and reproductive health care resources. However, certain health services are difficult to access or completely unavailable. Furthermore, LGBTQ rights are not recognized, and women live under a strict guardianship system, which treats adult women as legal minors. However, the guardianship laws are being liberalized and may undergo further change in the years to come.<ref>[http://metro.co.uk/2017/05/07/women-in-saudi-arabia-will-be-able-to-travel-and-study-without-needing-a-mans-permission-6621239/ Women in Saudi Arabia will be able to travel and study without needing a man’s permission]</ref> <ref>[https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/05/09/saudi-arabia-unofficial-guardianship-rules-banned Saudi Arabia: ‘Unofficial’ Guardianship Rules Banned]</ref> | As a conservative Islamic country, Saudi Arabia provides some sexual and reproductive health care resources. However, certain health services are difficult to access or completely unavailable. Furthermore, LGBTQ rights are not recognized, and women live under a strict guardianship system, which treats adult women as legal minors. However, the guardianship laws are being gradually liberalized and may undergo further change in the years to come.<ref>[http://metro.co.uk/2017/05/07/women-in-saudi-arabia-will-be-able-to-travel-and-study-without-needing-a-mans-permission-6621239/ Women in Saudi Arabia will be able to travel and study without needing a man’s permission]</ref> <ref>[https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/05/09/saudi-arabia-unofficial-guardianship-rules-banned Saudi Arabia: ‘Unofficial’ Guardianship Rules Banned]</ref> | ||
In Saudi Arabia, you can purchase birth control at local pharmacies, and some women report that you can buy birth control without being married (since pharmacists often don't ask for a prescription or marriage certificate). However, emergency contraception (the morning after pill) has been banned from the country. If you have had unprotected sex and want to prevent pregnancy, your best bet is to use regular birth control pills as replacement EC, which we explain how to do in the "Emergency Contraception" section, or get an IUD. Regarding STIs, the options available depend upon whether you're a Saudi national or foreigner. For example, if you're a Saudi national who is diagnosed with HIV, you will receive treatment and support. If you're a foreigner who is diagnosed with HIV, you will receive no treatment and be deported. For more details, please visit the "Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)" section. There are currently no providers of PrEP in Saudi Arabia, and we don't know if PEP is available (if you know, please add the information). Regarding menstruation, you can find pads, tampons and menstrual cups in Saudi Arabia. It is illegal to be unmarried and pregnant -- and, if a woman is found to be pregnant out of wedlock, she can face serious penalties. Finally, abortion is illegal except for very rare cases. Generally speaking, women who wish to seek out abortions must do so in other countries, although this choice has often been curbed in the past due to guardianship laws. | In Saudi Arabia, you can purchase birth control at local pharmacies, and some women report that you can buy birth control without being married (since pharmacists often don't ask for a prescription or marriage certificate). However, emergency contraception (the morning after pill) has been banned from the country. If you have had unprotected sex and want to prevent pregnancy, your best bet is to use regular birth control pills as replacement EC, which we explain how to do in the "Emergency Contraception" section, or get an IUD. Regarding STIs, the options available depend upon whether you're a Saudi national or foreigner. For example, if you're a Saudi national who is diagnosed with HIV, you will receive treatment and support. If you're a foreigner who is diagnosed with HIV, you will receive no treatment and be deported. For more details, please visit the "Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)" section. There are currently no providers of PrEP in Saudi Arabia, and we don't know if PEP is available (if you know, please add the information). Regarding menstruation, you can find pads, tampons and menstrual cups in Saudi Arabia. It is illegal to be unmarried and pregnant -- and, if a woman is found to be pregnant out of wedlock, she can face serious penalties. Finally, abortion is illegal except for very rare cases. Generally speaking, women who wish to seek out abortions must do so in other countries, although this choice has often been curbed in the past due to guardianship laws. | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
It is illegal to be unmarried and pregnant in Saudi Arabia. If you're found to be unmarried and pregnant, you may face jail time and, if you're a foreigner, potential deportation. Some women may face lashings | It is illegal to be unmarried and pregnant in Saudi Arabia. If you're found to be unmarried and pregnant, you may face jail time and, if you're a foreigner, potential punishment or deportation. Some women may face lashings, such as the case of a [http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/pinoyabroad/315556/pinay-in-saudi-receives-100-lashes-after-getting-pregnant-out-of-wedlock/story/ Filipina worker who became pregnant out of wedlock in 2013 and received 100 lashes]. There are also cases of Saudi authorities inspecting and cracking down on polyclinics that provide services to unmarried pregnant women.<ref>[https://www.arabianbusiness.com/saudi-arabia-crackdown-on-unmarried-women-who-have-children-578092.html Saudi Arabia to crackdown on unmarried women who have children]</ref> For these reasons, you may need a marriage certificate to access the maternity ward. For these reasons, if you're pregnant and unmarried, it's highly recommended that you leave Saudi Arabia for at least the duration of your pregnancy. You should be aware that you may also face problems if you come to Saudi Arabia after your pregnancy, so you should confirm your legal status with your child if you are later considering return. | ||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In 2014, Saudi Arabia officially outlawed domestic violence. These laws allow women to anonymously report abuse, and they can also receive immunity from litigation in cases when the abuse is not proven in court.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/08/20138290272119559.html Saudi Arabia outlaws domestic violence]</ref> This change was welcomed by human rights activists and the international community, after years of virtually no laws to protect women from domestic abuse. Furthermore, the | In 2014, Saudi Arabia officially outlawed domestic violence. These laws allow women to anonymously report abuse, and they can also receive immunity from litigation in cases when the abuse is not proven in court.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/08/20138290272119559.html Saudi Arabia outlaws domestic violence]</ref> This change was welcomed by human rights activists and the international community, after years of virtually no laws to protect women from domestic abuse. Furthermore, the King Khalid Foundation launched a campaign to raise awareness about domestic abuse that same year.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/08/20138290272119559.html Saudi Arabia outlaws domestic violence]</ref> | ||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||