Jedda: Cherie Blair made a plea for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia yesterday, telling her hosts that the dearth of women in the workforce was “undermining [the] economic potential” of the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia and other countries that discouraged women from pursuing careers, higher education and political office were squandering vital human assets, the Prime Minister’s wife told an economic forum in Jedda. “It leads to a huge loss of human potential that has a massive cost for society,” Mrs Blair said to polite applause from the audience of men and women, seated in separate sections. “Human rights and development go hand in hand. Educating girls is one of the most important investments a country can make in its future.”

Although women have been granted votes in the neighbouring states of Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, elections are still male-only events in Saudi Arabia.

Mrs Blair was supported by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, who urged Saudi Arabia to learn from her country’s economic transformation, which hinged on opening the country to the outside world and ushering women into the workplace. “The Prophet’s wife, Aisha, was herself a very successful businesswoman,” Mrs McAleese noted, winning a standing ovation from the audience’ s female half. (AP)

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