Washington ( CNN ) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Tuesday ditched `` quiet diplomacy '' and spoke publicly in support of Saudi Arabian women protesting the unwritten ban on their right to drive in the kingdom . `` What these women are doing is brave and what they are seeking is right '' said Clinton , in answer to a question from CNN at a press availability at the State Department . `` This is about Saudi women themselves , they have joined together . They are acting on behalf of their own rights . '' Until now , the State Department said Clinton was engaged in `` quiet diplomacy , '' working behind the scenes and raising the issue last week in a telephone conversation with Saudi Prince Saud al-Faisal . On Monday , State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters , `` There are times when it makes sense to do so publicly and there are times for quiet diplomacy . '' But Saudi Women for Driving , which describes itself as a coalition of women 's rights activist , bloggers and academics campaigning for the right to drive , told the secretary of state they were `` disappointed '' by her public silence . Clinton has made women 's rights a top issue for American diplomacy . `` Quiet diplomacy is not what we need right now , '' the group said in a letter . `` What we need is for you , personally , to make a strong , simple and public statement supporting our right to drive . '' The movement was sparked by the May 22 arrest of a Saudi technology consultant and mother named Manal al-Sharif who was detained for driving her own car . Supporters started a campaign on the Web and collected , they say , 100,000 signatures from 156 countries calling for al-Sharif to be released and acquitted of all charges . On Friday , some Saudi women turned the key in the ignition and set out on a motorized protest . Clinton 's public silence had raised questions that she might be sidestepping the controversy to avoid angering the Saudi government at a time when the United States needs help on Mideast issues . The United States has avoided criticizing Saudi Arabia amidst the Arab Spring uprisings in other Mideast and North African nations . On Tuesday , however , Clinton shot that down , saying , `` This is about Saudi women themselves , they have joined together , they are acting on behalf of their own rights . '' `` This is not about the United States , it 's not about what any of us on the outside say , it is about the women themselves and their right to raise their concerns with their own government . '' `` We have made clear our views that women everywhere , including women in the kingdom , have the right to make decisions about their lives and their futures , '' Clinton said . `` They have the right to contribute to society and provide for their children and their families . '' The right to drive , she said , provides access to economic opportunity , including jobs .
Saudi women are protesting restrictions that prevent them from driving . Clinton spokeswoman had said she was supporting the women with `` quiet diplomacy '' Tuesday , Clinton calls women brave , says `` what they are seeking is right ''