Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, President of the Saudi human rights authority, who leads the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the 34th session of the international Human Rights Council, which opened in Geneva today, voiced that his country underscores the importance of continuing the discussions at the international human rights council's table on human rights issues through attaching special attention to difference of values and cultures in their capacity as crucial factors for enhancing and protecting human rights. In a key address before the meeting, Al-Aiban said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proceeding with its efforts to show cooperation with the United Nations entities and mechanisms in charge of human rights and its capacity as a four-time member of the Geneva-based organization, noting that the Kingdom has completed all reports concerning the basic human rights agreements in which serves as an integral party. The Kingdom is working to implement all recommendations committing it to act within the comprehensive periodical review mechanism, he said, citing the recent visits by human rights council's senior officials in charge of enhancing and protecting human rights in terms of terror-combating and abject-poverty-related human rights. He said enhancing and protecting human rights is done in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based on Islamic Sharia principles. He said the Kingdom's efforts in this regard, cover developing the legislative and constitutional frameworks for protecting and enhancing human rights through several legal reforms of the human rights authority regulations, citing the establishment of the Saudi bar, and family affairs council. He added that currently a revision of the criminal measures system is being conducted and a new penal system is being drafted to combat misuse of power in Saudi Arabia. Al-Aiban also gave an account on the Kingdom vision 2030 which calls for achieving comprehensive development according to the country's values, pillars and exploiting its vast capabilities and resources, given its strategic location and promising economic characteristics. Casting light on the means and mechanisms the vision is going to benefit, Al-Aiban cited government re-structuring, systems review, and performance assessment and measurement. He said the vision has confirmed a number of rights, like the right to health, education, work, cultural, intellectual and social rights, family protection, women participation in political and public life, and formation of associations. --More
