RightsThe 2nd Issue: December 2013 In his Speech to the Human Rights Council in Geneva Dr. Al-Aiban: Initiatives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Serve Humanity Cabinet Appreciates the Positive Reactions World Praises for KSA’ Efforts in the Protection of Human Rights Justice is the Basis of Human Rights From Abdul-Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Saud to the people of the Arabian Peninsula “Any of our parish who feels to be oppressed or suffers an injustice should wire or mail the complaint free of charge to us on our own expense, on the other hand competent employees shall accept such wired and or mailed complaints that delivered by our people even if they are posted against any of the royal family members(my sons and grandsons). However, Any of the officers who gives a try to discourage our parish from submitting their complains, regardless of their significance, or even those who give a try to influence their vehemence, must know very well that we will impose severe punishment on them. I don’t wish to hear about any oppressed or wronged. I don’t wish to bear any guilt that has been caused by the oppression or not being able to rescue wronged people or even to give a support to those wronged till getting their rights”. “O God, I have delivered (the message), may you be my witness”. Rights The “Rights” magazine in this edition introduces special content for its valued readers including variety of subjects that addressed the human rights situation in the Kingdom and summarized it in a report and submitted it to the Cus- todian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdu- laziz - may God protect him – and also communicated the Commission’s praise for the Council of Ministers’ approval of the “Protection from Abuse” system, as well as the adop- tion of the system of Domestic Workers Regulation. We also tackled the humanitarian initiatives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques which relieved the families of prisoners who will be released before Eid. Furthermore, convoys and trucks of food and emergency aid have been sent to many of the peoples of the Muslim Ummah in Syria, Palestine, Burma, Pakistan and other countries. “Rights” magazine approached all these contents in a series of reports, investigations and interviews that are not limited to regional affairs, but extended to follow the world, and the situation of Muslims in non-Muslim countries. The child also received share of our interest in the this number, as we published a new story of “Yazeid Knows his Rights” series which dealt with the right of the child in par- ticipation and mixed it with interesting drama plot that at- tracts children captures their hearts. 1 Editorial Islam Prohibits Abuse There is no doubt that protecting human beings from humiliation and physical and moral violence is guaranteed in this country which derives its regulations from the teachings of the Holy Quran and the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who came mercy to the worlds. The Holy Koran stressed this in more than a verse including the verse {We have Certainly honored the children of Adam} and human dignity means not to harm and hurt him. And the Sunnah of the Prophet confirmed that through the actions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his statements, including The Prophetic tradition (Hadith) “The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe, and the believer is the one with whom the people’s lives and wealth are trusted”. Also the Quranic Verses and Prophetic Tradition called for compassion and confirmed it in the importance of the right of the orphan and the young and the women and the poor. However, people may overlook this Islamic guidance and hence commit violations against the right of the weakest group in the community by exploiting their mandate, their custody or their kinship, thinking they are immune from accountability. For that reason, the Kingdom took the initiative and issued a system that protects not only this weak group, but also protects each person in the society, from being abused, and criminalizes the abusers as the Kingdom recognizes the negative impact of violence on the hearts of the victims which disrupts their energy and destroys their abilities and leaves bad experiences in them which in turn affect them and those who around them, and this negative effect is reflected adversely on community. On account of that, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may Allah protect him, approved the system of protection from abuse to be another building block in the construction of an integrated system of legislation that is in favor of human beings rights in this gracious homeland, so that each of its members live in safe from harm, violence and injustice. Because the protection of society is a shared responsibility between the stakeholders in the state, including the Commission as well as the individuals who make up the community itself, it is supposed that all should unite their efforts to combat violence and standing up to the abusers whoever they are. No doubt that raising awareness of this system and uniting efforts in applying it will have positive results and good effects, especially the Council of Ministers adoption of the system of protection from abuse reflects the level of civilization and humanitarian in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as its commitment to make everyone (citizens and residents) and his relatives and families live in peace, and everyone in the Arab countries and the world important in light of major security incidents taking place now, in this troubled world. *This is Issue No. 3. Rights 2 Issue (02) December 2013 Human Rights Efforts ... And World Testimonials The praises of more than 90 countries around the world for the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of publishing, supporting and protecting human rights came as a strong practical reply to skeptics and promoters of the rumors that contradict entirely with the reality experienced by the Kingdom and approved by the system of government that is derived from Islamic law (Sharia) and its teachings of tolerance. It became clear that what is promoted falsely is just tendentious propaganda aimed mostly to undermine the security and stability of a country where justice and goodness prevail thanks to the application of the Islamic law which stressed on the necessity of protecting human dignity and the fundamental rights and freedoms. The world positive reactions to discussing the Kingdom’s report during the universal periodic review before the Human Rights Council in Geneva were just a reflection of what the world saw of achievements, that became clear for every impartial person, in the field of human rights and humanitarian issues and which were embodied in the form of reforms, enacting legislations and adopting strategies that are concerned with protecting human rights within the Kingdom and which came to complement the efforts initiated by the Kingdom since the adoption of its first report. Also the world saw what Saudi women obtained in the era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz - may God protect him – from contributing to the national decision- making by taking leadership positions in public and private sectors and Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Aiban their membership of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia (Shura President of the Human Rights Commission Council) with a percentage not less than 20% in addition to their right to vote and stand as a candidate for membership of the municipal councils. Moreover, the issuance of “Protection from Abuse” system - which aims to protect all members of society from all forms of exploitation and abuse - came to enhance the actions taken by the State in the field of protection from all forms of abuse and violence. Also the kingdom’s continued interest in protecting human rights in the framework of the United Nations and its commitment to international conventions by it had an impact upon the positive response of the international community, where the Kingdom acceded to a number of major international instruments of human rights in addition to a number of regional instruments and conventions, as well as its support for the least developed countries, where it has dropped more than $ 6 billion of debts of these countries. There is no doubt that these strategies, steps, and developments that increase in frequency day after day in the context of promoting human rights in the Kingdom hade been realized only by the success granted by God then the ongoing support and interest to protect the human rights from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and HH the Crown Prince and HH the Second Deputy Premier – may God protect them. *This is Issue No. 4. 3 76 Contents: Rights News: 6 The Council of Ministers Published by Human Rights Commission briefed on a report on the repercussions of the events The General Supervisor taking place in the region and the international con- Dr. Bandar Mohammed Al-Aiban tacts, consultations and President of Human Rights Commission discussions on them, es- pecially the widespread violations of human rights Deputy General Supervisor 20 in Syria and the continu- Dr. Zaid Abdul-Muhssin Al-Hussein ing massacres and the use of the military machine Vice President of Human Rights against the Syrian people, Commission reiterating the unvarying positions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards Editor in chief those events. Ahmad Bin Eid Al Hut 6 Cover Story: 50 Initiatives of the Custodian Correspondences to be sent to: 74 of the Two Holy Mosques, The Editor King Abdullah bin Ab- dulaziz achieved great Tel: 014628210 humanitarian shifts, that Fax: 014612061 delighted families of pris- Website: www.hrc.gov.sa oners and their relatives by releasing them, as well as E-mail: [email protected] the deposit of about two Publisher, Rawnaa for Specialized Media 10 billion SR in the account of P.O.Box 26450 Riyadh 11486 beneficiaries of social se- curity pensions and assis- Tel:14197333 Fax: 14192640 tance, and the Syrian and Website: www.rawnaa.com the Palestinian brothers had a good share of these Executive Manager: Hashem Bin Ibrahim initiatives.