Saudi Arabia removes some restrictions for women, which is what they are now allowed

Changes were made possible through certain royal decrees.

Riyadh has long faced international criticism of Saudi women's status.

Human rights groups say women are often treated as second-class citizens, as rules forced them to take the consent of a male guardian, for important decisions throughout their lives, regardless of age.

Authorities have repeatedly given up these restrictions in recent years, including last year's decision, that allowed women to drive cars.

According to the new changes, a Saudi passport should be issued for any citizen applying for it, and that every person over the age of 21 does not need to get permission to travel.

Women have also been granted the first right to record their child's birth, marriage, or divorce, and to obtain official family documents.

“Civil Status Departments and their branches in all regions of the kingdom have begun to implement the changes specified in the” royal decree, the report said, citing an interior ministry source.

A Saudi newspaper reported that more than 1,000 women in the country's eastern province had left Saudi Arabia on Monday, without their custody's permission, in what appears to be an early application of new rules. /rel