Saudi Arabia claimed that it pays great attention to human rights and that the anti-human trafficking system guarantees the enactment of special penalties for anyone involved in this crime, especially if the victim is a child or a woman.
In a discussion of the report of the Special Rapporteur on human trafficking during the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council, the representative of Saudi Arabia, Ashwaq al-Tarif, said that her country had taken legislative measures aimed at combating and limiting these crimes. Al-Tarif said that the government seeks to provide a safe environment for female workers and prohibits practices that would exploit workers.
The Special Rapporteur issued a report in which she reached several conclusions and recommendations and emphasized that protecting the rights of refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless persons is essential to prevent trafficking in persons. The report also recommended the ratification of special international legislation and ensuring the full implementation of measures to identify, assist and protect victims of trafficking and persons at risk of trafficking.
Saudi Arabia's comment on the report comes in light of the continuation of policies that facilitate human trafficking, as it still applies the sponsorship law to domestic workers and farmers. In addition, despite the lack of transparency in the Saudi government's dealings, the follow-up of the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights confirms the issuance of the death penalty against migrant workers who may be victims of human trafficking, especially those accused of drug-related crimes.
ESOHR believes that Saudi Arabia's comment on the report of the Special Rapporteur comes within the policy of using international platforms to promote reforms that do not correspond to reality, as the application of the anti-human trafficking law is still unable to address this practice under the sponsorship law and other violations.