Any legislation, or regulations as the laws are known here, need to be reviewed from time to time and amended, if necessary, to ensure they conform to the ever changing needs of contemporary life. In advanced countries, committees and working teams are formed for this purpose. The working groups are usually drawn from legislative bodies like parliaments. The advice of experts is also sought on any proposed amendments.
When the laws and regulations are resilient and designed in such a way as to respond to people’s needs, there will be no difficulty in implementing them. However, if they are rigid and cannot respond to public needs, enforcing them can prove difficult and people may not be that enthusiastic to respect them. Instead, they may attempt to circumvent the law.
Laws are meant to protect people’s rights and ensure justice for all. They also outline the duties and obligations to ensure that the society lives in security and harmony. No society can develop and progress if it lacks the kind of laws that regulate the life of people and respond to their needs. It is for this reason legislation has been enacted to regulate relations between the people of one country and between them and other nations. Laws were issued banning wars and the use of force by any party seeking to enforce its will on others.
Out of respect for international conventions binding on every one, nations amend their own domestic laws and enact new legislation to meet their international commitments. The new laws and amendments are enshrined in these countries’ constitutions. Any breach of the conventions or the international law can lead to the use of force against the violator.
Saudi Arabia has embarked on a process of reviewing its domestic laws and regulations. The process has been accelerated with the Kingdom seeking accession to the World Trade Organization.
Despite the fact that many laws and regulations were reviewed, a lot still remains a lot to be done. It is the duty of the Shoura Council and the newly established National Human Rights Commission to go through all laws and regulations that may be in conflict with our commitments under international conventions, especially in regard to issues relating to human rights. Some foreign countries and international organizations use this as a stick with which to beat the Kingdom. That is something we do not want, especially now after the damage caused to us by extremism and terrorism.
The Kingdom is a civilized country that has been built on moderation, tolerance and the desire for mutual cooperation with all. We must maintain this privileged status.
