RIYADH: In the last three years since its establishment on Sept. 28, 2005, the governmental Human Rights Commission (HRC) has dealt with over 10,000 complaints. Turki bin Khaled Al-Sudairi, chairman of the organization, said 50 percent of complaints were dealt with by referring them to specialized bodies, or dismissing them as unsubstantiated, or not falling under the HRC’s jurisdiction.
Al-Sudairi said that the organization members have so far carried out 12 visits to shelters, homes and observation centers in conjunction with concerned governmental bodies, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
He added that the HRC recently formed a higher committee to work with governmental and nongovernmental organizations to distribute booklets on human rights to official bodies.
Al-Sudairi said that the organization’s website also has a section detailing the importance of the Universal Periodical Review in correctly monitoring and documenting human rights in the Kingdom.
“As the HRC is a member of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, we are taking rapid steps to finish our second annual report in a way that correctly reflects the organization and its sincerity, which stems from our strong belief in human rights which Islam is deeply concerned with,” Al-Sudairi said.
He added that the HRC had launched an awareness campaign entitled “Dignity for Women and Support for Children” to increase awareness among women.
He added that a committee, under the direction of Princess Hessa bint Salman, has been established to follow up on domestic violence.
“Case studies have been prepared based on the complaints of abused women, whose conditions have been closely monitored by the HRC,” he said.
The HRC chief added that in its first year, the organization held 27 sessions in which 190 major cases were discussed and 31 resolutions passed.
“The commission is aware of the importance of its role on both the international and national levels. It has, therefore, received over 80 delegations from inside and outside the Kingdom and attended 30 legal forums where women’s presence was obvious,” he said.
Speaking about the Bidoon (stateless people) in the Kingdom, Al-Sudairi said the problem was a regional problem affecting several Gulf countries. “One of the HRC’s committees is exerting all possible efforts to find solutions to this problem in cooperation with concerned government bodies,” he said.
Al-Sudairi previously worked as a state minister and Cabinet member for eight years before Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah appointed him HRC chairman in 2005.
