A young Saudi woman who is fleeing abuse from her family in the oil-rich and conservative Islamic kingdom has been granted asylum in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Friday that that the United Nations Human Rights Commission reached out to Canada to request that 18-year old Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun be allowed to live in this country.

"That is something that we are pleased to do because Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women's rights around the world," Mr. Trudeau told a news conference in Regina.

Ms. al-Qunun had escaped from her family in Kuwait last Saturday and flew to Thailand to seek asylum, saying she feared her family would kill her if she returned to Saudi Arabia, where women are considered second-class citizens.