The Saudi government paid great attention to the issues of human rights and support for the protection of these rights at the local and international levels taking into consideration the special characteristics of societies and respect of the teachings of the religion. The kingdom's efforts to protect human rights have been greatly appreciated by concerned international organizations. The kingdom won membership of the first council of human rights at the United Nations in 2006. A report compiled by the Human Rights Association in the kingdom and sent to Saudi Press Agency on the occasion of the 60th International Human Rights Day reviewed some achievement and efforts by the Saudi government in the field of human rights. The report said that the kingdom's efforts to protect human rights at the local and international levels were based on its adherence to the implementation of the Islamic law. The report stated that the Saudi basic law of government states the kingdom's adherence to the protection of human rights. The report pointed out that the kingdom joined main international agreements concerned with the human rights. The report added that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was granted the Lech Walesa Prize in recognition of his achievements in charity and human fields and his effective contribution to dialogue among followers of religions and cultures and start of a series of intellectual dialogue on many issues of the Saudi society.
