Saudi Gazette Report

RIYADH — Dr. Hala Al-Tuwaijri, president of the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC), reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia is keen on not infringing in any way on the dignity of victims in trafficking in persons. The Kingdom has set deterrent penalties against those committing this crime, she said.

Dr. Al-Tuwaijri, who is also head of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, made these remarks while addressing a meeting with ambassadors and representatives of missions of a number of labor-exporting countries at HRC headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday. The meeting focused on the Kingdom’s efforts in combating crimes of trafficking in persons, and opening horizons for consultation and cooperation in this field.

Al-Tuwaijri emphasized that the Kingdom has paid great attention to combating human trafficking crimes and has worked to develop its legal and institutional structure in this respect. “The Kingdom has strengthened its efforts in the field of combating crimes of trafficking in persons. It has also worked to strengthen the aspect of the judicial prosecution of crimes of trafficking in persons through the establishment of specialized prosecution offices to investigate cases of trafficking in persons,” she said while noting that judicial departments in the courts would consider cases of human trafficking crimes. “Efforts are continuing in this context among all parties to combat these crimes in the Kingdom,” she said while affirming that the Kingdom is continuing its permanent approach and principles to put people first without discrimination and that their rights are protected in a manner that preserves their dignity and decent life.

The consultative meeting was attended by ambassadors and representatives from the countries of Ethiopia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Burundi, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, and the Philippines. Judge Hatem Ali, regional representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the GCC countries, and Mohammed Al-Zarqani, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration in the Kingdom of Bahrain, also attended the meeting.