PRESS RELEASE : 45th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Saudi Arabia [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 January 2024.
The UK delivered a statement during Saudi Arabia’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.
Thank you Mr President. Welcome, Minister.
We welcome progress since Saudi Arabia’s last UPR including on the rights of and opportunities for women.
We have three recommendations:
- Amend cyber crime and anti-terrorism legislation to define terrorism in line with international human rights norms, and ensure that interpretation and application of the definition in counter-terrorism operations are consistent with human rights, particularly freedom of expression.
- Restrict use of the Specialised Criminal Court to cases that are appropriately defined as terrorism and permit journalists and diplomats to routinely monitor trials.
- Expand the Juvenile Law to include all crimes and thoroughly and transparently investigate any concerns regarding individuals who may have been minors at the time of their alleged crimes.
