January 28, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 24, 1423

RIYADH, Jan 27: A five-member Human Rights Watch team, which is currently visiting the kingdom on a fact-finding mission, on Sunday met Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz. It has also previously met Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Justice Minister Abdullah Al-Sheikh, Education Minister Muhammad Al-Rasheed and Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari.

Last October, a UN human rights official had visited Saudi Arabia, and was the first UN official to do so. He was allowed to monitor the entire Saudi judicial system, often under attack in the western media.

The visit by the Human Rights Watch is also being regarded here as a sign of the opening up of Saudi society. In a statement, the organization expressed its pleasure with the reception its team had received, and said none of the interviews it had requested had been refused.

The visit is being seen here as linked to the charter for political, economic and social reforms throughout the Arab world, including increased political participation of the masses in the decision-making process, as envisaged by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.

Saudi Arabia has ratified UN conventions on racial discrimination, discrimination against women, against torture and children’s rights. It is also considering ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.