Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced that it will now notify women of changes to their marital status through text messages to offset the trend of men separating from their wives without telling them.
The MoJ said that women can sign up for the notifications through a portal on their website. The portal can also be used to view details of one’s marital status. The text message will contain the marriage certificate and the location where women can pick up appropriate documentation.
The MoJ also said on its website that the move is “a step aimed at protecting the rights of female clients, and enhancing digital transformation with more services.”
According to the Financial Times, the divorce rate in Saudi Arabia is climbing, while the marriage rate in the country is slowly declining.
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Saudi Arabia has struggled with women’s rights for a long time, but has recently made strides. Just last year, the country lifted its ban on women drivers, but with stricter regulations on decent, more women have been thrown in jails for protesting.
The move is part of a bigger plan by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is pushing for economic and social reforms as part of his Vision 2030 plan.
