Saudi Arabian Efforts in the Field of Human Rights

Riyadh, August 15, SPA -- The Government of the Custodian the Two
Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, has given a
significant concern as regards human rights and laid the foundations
for the protection of these rights for the local and international
communities, taking into account the privacy and respect of the
teachings of religion.

The Saudi Arabian efforts and contributions for the protection of
human rights is highly appreciated by the concerned international
bodies and institutions, and these efforts have been culminated into
winning a membership at the UN First Human Rights Council in 2006.

The efforts spring from the commitment to the application of the
tolerant Islamic Shariah, which calls for all to preserve human life
and dignity. To that end, several measures have been taken, including
the provisions of Article 26 of the Basic Governing System, which
emphasizes the Kingdom's commitment to the protection of human
rights.

Also, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ratified four key international
treaties including the International Convention on the Elimination of
Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1997 and the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2000, The
United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment and The United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child 1996.

In the same vein, Saudi Arabia ratified five International Labour
Organization (ILO) conventions including C105 on abolition of forced
Labour and C26 Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, since the
1978. Equal Remuneration Convention C100 and C11 on right of
association in 1978, Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention C182 and
expressed reservations on some provisions that are contrary to the
Islamic law.

At the regional level, in 1990, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ratified
"Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam" issued by the Islamic
Countries' Conference of Foreign ministers and also ratified the Arab
Charter of Human Rights adopted by the Arab Summit held in Tunisia in
2004.

At the level of strengthening the mechanisms for the
protection of human rights, the government approved the establishment
of the first body to promote human rights in 2005 and began its works
in 2006, and before that, the government approved the establishment
of the National Assembly for Human Rights, whose membership comprises
of 41 members including 10 women.

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