VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHRH #2105 2911230
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181230Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6768
INFO RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 9146
UNCLAS RIYADH 002105
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
G/IWI: ABOTTNER, DRL:JLIEBERMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL KPAO LE
SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA: NOMINATION OF PRINCESS LOULWA AL
FAISAL BIN ABDULAZIZ FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE
AWARD
REF: STATE 126072
1. (U) Post is pleased to nominate Princess Loulwa Al Faisal
for the Secretary of State's Award for International Women of
Courage. Princess Loulwa is the daughter of the late King
Faisal Bin Abdulaziz and Queen Effat Al Thunayaan, as well as
the sister of Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal. She is well
known for her dedication to promoting women's education and
social and family welfare.
2. (U) Princess Loulwa has been a pioneer in female
education, helping to supervise Saudi Arabia's first private
high school for girls -- Dar Al Hanan School. She also
assisted her mother, Queen Effat, in establishing Saudi
Arabia's first women's college -- Effat College -- in 1999.
Princess Loulwa currently serves as the President and Chair
of the Board of Trustees of Al Maharat Cognitive and Skill
Development Center in Jeddah, the Vice Chair and General
Supervisor of Dar Al Hanan School, and on Effat College's
Board of Trustees. She is a board member of the Riyadh-based
King Faisal Foundation, which has established the Kingdom's
newest and most progressive university with the stated
intention of becoming the Kingdom's first co-educational
university. Princess Loulwa is also a member of Al Nadha
Philanthropic Society for Women, which is also based in
Riyadh.
3. (U) Princess Loulwa has been a frequent lecturer on
women's issues in international fora. She also actively
advocates for women's rights in the Kingdom, pushing for more
opportunities for women in fields such as business,
engineering, and the sciences. Known anecdotally as the
"first ambassador for Saudi women," Princess Loulwa has
helped many women in the Kingdom achieve their goal of
advanced education.
4. (U) Loulwa is no stranger to personal sacrifice in the
fight for reform. Her father, King Faisal, who was
assassinated in 1975, implemented many reforms during his
reign -- including the introduction of education for girls,
which he implemented against significant conservative
opposition. A true "woman of courage," Princess Loulwa
recognizes the delicate balance between the need for
empowering women and managing change in traditionally
conservative culture. "We are taking our time," she is
quoted as saying, "and we are getting our way."
5. (U) Post would be happy to facilitate contact for
Department officials with Princess Loulwa Political Officer
Jennifer Saporia King (kingjs@state.gov) is Post's point of
contact on women's issues.
FRAKER