Am I the only one who is underwhelmed?

I think it might be being used as a cover up or distraction for something else.

They've fought for this because if they're fought for anything more threatening they would have been stoned/imprisoned/had their hands chopped off - probably all three

There is also the question of diverting attention away from the war crimes investigation.

Who on earth announces domestic policy in the UN??!!

I'm happy for the women in Saudi who want this freedom but it's just a red herring, really, to divert attention from the many wrongs done to females in their society.

anniebach I don't think anyone is mocking the Saudi Arabian women who have campaigned hard to get this ban lifted - some of whom have been to prison for flouting the law.

What a lot of people feel, though, is that countries like ours should be more vocal in their criticism of the Saudi rulers' treatment of women, which really is nothing short of slavery (and should not be selling them arms).

And, as whitewave says, there is certainly a suspicion that this very small step in the right direction is being used to divert attention from what is happening (very quietly, because there is very little coverage in our media) in Yemen.

I've read a book recently, which I can recommend if you're prepared to be very angry and very upset, called 'The War on Women' by Sue Lloyd-Roberts. (The BBC journalist). One chapter is called 'Saudi Arabia - the world's largest women's prison'. She illustrates the issues really well - from trying to buy a bra (all the shop assistants are men, as women would not be allowed to work unsupervised) through to more depressing examples of how women are treated because 'they lack capacity' (That's the official reason given for why women are treated the way they are)