Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has commended reforms undertaken by Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in the areas of women’s and workers’ rights since his coming to power last year.

According to the 26th edition of the organization’s annual report published Friday, Saudi Arabia has introduced reforms for the benefit of Saudi women and of foreign workers in the country.

The 659-page report reviews human rights in more than 90 countries around the world.

HRW which monitors the promotion of principles of freedom, democracy and human rights in the world, said that Saudi Arabia gave women the right to vote in its municipal elections last December.

The Kingdom also announced in December last year that divorced and widowed Saudi women could get separate identification cards for their children. The cards will allow the children to be enrolled in Saudi schools and receive both health care and other services.

The Council of Ministers announced in the same month its approval for a new law allowing the establishment of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for the first time in the history of the Kingdom, the report said.

According to Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW’s executive director for the Middle East and North Africa, Saudi Arabia introduced positive changes for women and migrant workers in 2015.

The organization attributes the reforms to King Salman. Mention was also made in the report of NGOs in promoting the principles of freedom and democracy in the world.

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