A new regulation in Saudi Arabia is set to stop Saudi women from being divorced without their knowledge.
Starting from Sunday, courts will be required to notify women by text on rulings confirming their divorces, reports BBC.
Local female lawyers suggest the measure will end what is known as secret divorces – cases where men end a marriage without telling their wives.
The directive would ensure women are fully aware of their marital status and can protect rights such as alimony.
Last year, a decades-old driving ban on women was lifted in Saudi Arabia.
However, women still remain subject to male guardianship laws.
There are many things that Saudi women are unable to do without permission from a male guardian, usually a husband, father, brother or son.
These things include, but are not limited to:
The guardianship system has helped create one of the most gender unequal countries in the Middle East.
