In an effort to uplift female participation in Saudi Arabia’s labour ministry, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Ali bin Nasser al-Ghafis, appointed Latifa bint Sulaiman AbuNayan as Advisor of Social Affairs.
“I hope I will be worthy of this trust and become an Advisor to the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs in all matters related to social welfare and the concerns of citizens in general,” said AbuNayan in an interview with Sayidaty.
Pointing out the positive steps Saudi Arabia is taking to empower women she said, “Even if this change is not noticed around the world, we know for a fact that it does exist.”
“I was honoured to attend a number of international and local council meetings,” she said. “Although the interest in women’s issues was always present, it is now happening at a much faster pace”.
Among the prominent titles she held previously, AbuNayan was former undersecretary for the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the first Saudi woman to be appointed as an advisor to the minister. She is among the female cadres in the Ministry of Social Affairs to lead in several social institutions for women. This step came into effect with the initiatives and goals of Saudi Arabia’s National Transformation Plan 2020 and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
AbuNayan has also worked in paediatrics as supervisor with people who have severe disabilities and as director for the Social Welfare Home for Girls.
Her appointment came after two women were appointed to leading positions in the Kingdom’s financial sector early this year. Sarah Al-Suhaimi was appointed as chair to Tadawul - Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange and Rania Nashar became the first female commercial bank CEO to Samba Financial Group.
