Saudi Arabia continues to use the platform of the Human Rights Council to promote what it describes as achievements in the field of human rights, taking advantage of attempts to impose silence on civil society and human rights defenders and to punish those who cooperate with international mechanisms.
In a speech under the second item of the Council's 53rd session on June 20, 2023, delegation member Ashwaq al-Tarif said that Saudi Arabia continues its efforts to promote and protect human rights and cooperate continuously with international human rights mechanisms on the principle of human first.
The speech came in light of clear indications of complete disregard for international mechanisms and cooperation with them. The latest violation was the execution of two young Bahrinis, where the special rapporteurs had confirmed that their trial had blatant flaws.
Al-Tarif considered that Saudi Arabia made significant human rights achievements, including many areas, most notably women, education, health and climate change. Tracking the situation in Saudi Arabia indicates that the most significant achievements were in mass executions and the number of years of imprisonment in sentences issued against women and activists on the grounds of exercising legitimate rights and defending human rights.
The contradiction between reality and what Saudi Arabia claims was evident in the speech, as Al-Tarif glorified her country’s work to develop its legislative system and issue legislation, including the evidence system, the personal status system, and recently the adoption and issuance of the penal system and the civil transactions system. According to the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights, the sanctions regime has not been published, although more than two years have passed since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promoted its issuance. This is in addition to the fact that the first draft of the system indicated that it would continue to violate the fundamental rules of international law.
ESOHR believes that Saudi Arabia's words in international forums prove its relentless endeavor to whitewash its image in the field of human rights away from real and realistic reforms. The organization stresses that the harassment and suffocation of human rights defenders and activists at home clearly reflects the Saudi government's fears of exposing the facts.