Chairman of Shoura Council’s human rights committee Mishal bin Mamdouh Al-Ali and NSHR Chairman Moflih Al-Qahtani led their respective teams during the talks.

At the discussions at the Shoura Council headquarters in Riyadh, the two sides agreed to play their respective roles in nurturing a human rights culture in the Kingdom and raising public awareness in this regard.

The participants also discussed various petitions on human rights received by the Shoura Council for its consideration. The two parties felt that the principles of human rights should be fully implemented with the cooperation of government and nongovernmental bodies ensuring transparency in all their activities.

According to Al-Ali, the committee on human rights conducts detailed studies on all human rights petitions received by the Shoura Council. He added that the committee takes up these issues during the council’s deliberations on human rights.

Meanwhile, Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh received Australia's Ambassador-designate Neil Hawkins at his office in Riyadh on Monday.

Welcoming the new ambassador to the Kingdom, Al-Asheikh offered his greetings and good wishes to the new envoy.

The speaker hoped Hawkins would contribute to strengthening relations between the Kingdom and Australia, particularly at a parliamentary level.

During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and explored means of enhancing cooperation in various fields.

Hawkins is a senior career officer with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and until recently was assistant secretary of its Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe Branch, a position he has held since 2010.