Women in Brunei


Women in Brunei are women living in Brunei Darussalam. In Brunei, women are regarded as persons of "very high status". The U.S. Department of State has stated that discrimination against women is a problem in Brunei.

Legal rights

Reproductive rights

in Brunei is largely illegal, with an exception if a woman's life is danger. Previously, the penalty for receiving an abortion was up to seven years in prison, with 10–15 years for the person performing the abortion. In 2014, Brunei's government implemented Sharia criminal law in a series of phases which was set to increase the punishment for abortion to execution by stoning. This part of the law was to come into effect in 2016, although it's now expected to come into effect in 2018. In 2016, a 22 year old women was sentenced to seven years in prison for obtaining an abortion using the abortion pill.

Clothing norms

Many muslim women in Brunei wear traditional head cover known as the tudong, also spelled as tudung. However, the government does not force women to cover up.

Gender roles

In recent years, Bruneian women have started to assume "positions of responsibility" in the Government of Brunei. They are able to take jobs in the armed forces of Brunei; however they are not allowed to serve while in combat situations.

Sex trafficking

Citizen and foreign women and girls are sex trafficked in Brunei. They are raped and physically and psychologically harmed throughout the country.