The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia improved its ranking from "Tier 3" to "Tier 2 Watchlist" per US State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report which ranks countries based on anti-trafficking in persons efforts. The Kingdom's improved ranking reflects its continued determination to push forward with protecting and promoting human rights in general and combating trafficking in persons in particular. President of the Human Rights Commission and Chairman of the Anti-trafficking in Persons Committee Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al Awwad said the Kingdom's new ranking reflects the major reforms adopted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. These reforms were positively reflected in the development of the country's legal and institutional framework for trafficking in persons, which in turn promotes the work environment and protects workers. Al Awwad noted that Saudi Arabia continues to make an ongoing effort to combat trafficking in persons crimes in keeping with the provisions of Islamic Shari'a which prohibits the degradation of human dignity in all its forms and stresses respect for humanity and the preservation of human rights. The Kingdom has also put much effort in combating trafficking crimes as evidenced by its comprehensive system consisting of promulgating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, the signing of agreements and protocols on such crimes, the formation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee, and the establishment of a specialized department to combat these types of crimes at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. This system created a framework which guarantees protection for all persons against such crimes, it offers assistance to victims, and allows compensation. He applauded the direction and attention given by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to the matter. This comes as part of His Royal Highness' continued effort to push the wheel of reform, development, and modernization in all government institutions, and human rights. The Human Rights Commission continues to receive direction and unlimited support from His Royal Highness. He also noted the efforts of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee, the entity responsible for providing directed programming and training for individuals involved in law enforcement. Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee training has focused on discovering and tracking trafficking in persons cases, best practices in processing cases, and building national trafficking in persons capacities. The National Referral Program was launched to document trafficking in persons cases from discovery to resolution. The program further provides workers in various agencies with guidance on the procedures to follow at every stage in accordance with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law.
