SAUDI ARABIA: NOMINATION OF PRINCESS LOULWA AL

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