Long way to go for women even if in Saudi Arabia they can drive now. Five other discriminatory laws around the world

Despite small strides, women in many countries still face discrimination; in Singapore there is partial immunity for marital rape, in the African nation of Lesotho married woman can’t own land, and there’s more

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Women walk to a polling station in Lesotho, southern Africa, where they are barred from owning land independently. Photo: AP

Published: 5:27pm, 25 Jun 2018Updated: 5:59pm, 25 Jun 2018

For the first time in history, women in Saudi Arabia have been buckling up and driving themselves legally through the streets of the ultra-conservative kingdom.

The lifting of the driving ban was ordered last September by King Salman and took effect on Sunday, part of sweeping reforms by his powerful young son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open up cloistered Saudi society.

Social media reaction to the lifting of the Saudi driving ban

The move was welcomed by women’s rights activists in the ultra-conservative Muslim country, and around the world. But for women there and elsewhere, there is still a long way to go before the battle for equal rights is won. Here are five of the many remaining laws that discriminate against women.

1. Singapore: Partial immunity for marital rape

Marital rape refers to non-consensual sexual intercourse between married spouses, and in Singapore, there is a partial immunity for this. It’s not a criminal offence except when the wife is below the age of 13.

2. Yemen: A woman is only half a witness