Saudi Arabia had its record on human rights including freedoms for women, prosecutions for freedom of speech, use of the death penalty and alleged killing of migrants at its border with Yemen critiqued at the United Nations on Monday. In the kingdom\u2019s first formal review at the UN Human Rights Council since November 2018, the Saudi Arabia delegation said more than 50 reforms had since then been passed in favour of women.<\/p>\n
Delegates were told Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, that minors can no longer be executed, judges are independent and migrant workers are now better protected by law. \u201cThese developments and progress have been relentless,\u201d said Hala Al Tuwaijri, president of the Saudi National Human Rights Commission, in translated comments. She cited an \u201cunprecedented period of development especially when it comes to human rights\u201d during the Vision 2030 plan to modernise Saudi society and a post-oil economy driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.<\/p>\n
Still, urging to do more came from a swath of countries during a 3 1\/2-hour session. Germany\u2019s delegate Kristina Huck said it commended Saudi Arabia for \u201cextensive efforts to improve women\u2019s rights\u201d yet noted \u201cserious restrictions\u201d on the right to freedom of expression, assembly and freedom of the press. Saudi Arabia was asked repeatedly to redefine terrorism in relation to cybercrime laws that allow criticism of the state to be prosecuted.<\/p>\n
The United States was a rare critic to point to a specific allegation about the border killings, highlighted last year by Human Rights Watch. Saudi Arabia was asked to \u201cundertake a comprehensive, transparent investigation of all allegations that Saudi security forces are killing and abusing migrants crossing the Yemeni border, cease any abuses, ensure accountability for any abuses or violations and issue a public investigation report,\u201d US ambassador to the Human Rights Council, Michele Taylor, said.<\/p>\n
Austria backed up American concerns about migrant killings and also recommended abolishing \u201cremaining privileges of male guardianship that still impeded progress, empowerment and equality of women.\u201d In a later response, Al Tuwaijri said Saudi authorities worked with the UN\u2019s Geneva-based International Organisation for Migration \u201cto ensure proper monitoring of our borders and to ensure that the human rights of those crossing our borders are upheld.\u201d<\/p>\n
Australia stated its concerns with \u201cexploitation of migrant and foreign workers and lack of transparency in judicial proceedings\u201d and Iceland recommended changing laws in order to criminalise marital rape and decriminalize \u201csame sex conduct between consenting adults.\u201d A broad range of countries raised concerns with lack of protection for domestic workers, gender-based violence and a fear of reprisals against civil society activists and media workers.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia had its supporters, including Morocco, Bahrain and Qatar. China\u2019s delegate Li Yujie commended \u201cefforts and achievements for promotion and protection of human rights,\u201d and Yemen praised the kingdom\u2019s \u201cfight against corruption which undermines the protection of human rights.\u201d Saudi Arabia\u2019s heavy investment in sports creating the LIV Golf project, luring stars like Cristiano Ronaldo to its domestic soccer league and preparing to host soccer\u2019s Asian Cup in 2027 and the men\u2019s World Cup in 2034 has led to accusations of \u201csportswashing\u201d to deflect attention from its record on human rights.<\/p>\n
There was no mention of sportswashing Monday, though neighbouring Jordan suggested sports events hosted by the kingdom could \u201cpromote the culture of human rights.\u201d The Human Rights Council prepared for the meeting taking detailed reports from the Saudi state, UN agencies and NGOs including Human Rights Watch. It set a Feb. 9 target to send a report summarising Monday\u2019s debate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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