May 7, 2003	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 4, 1424

RIYADH, May 6: Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced on Tuesday the establishment of human rights organizations.

In Riyadh, the foreign minister announced that King Fahd had approved the establishment of a non-governmental organization (NGO) for human rights, the first of its kind in the country.

“The approval of the high authority (King Fahd) has been issued to set up a private human rights body. It will be established very soon,” Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters.

“There is another, government human rights body on the way. Each will perform a different role,” the prince added.

The non-governmental rights body “will be totally independent, and King Fahd is very keen to guarantee its independence. It will not be under anyone.”

Prince Saud denied that the body was being set up “under any external pressure”, saying the idea came up three years ago.

“A number of good Saudi people have requested its establishment and their request was answered. The aim is domestic reforms. We are forging ahead with reforms as much as needed by Saudi citizens.”

The official rights body would be charged with implementing “government decisions regarding human rights, and to reformulate local laws to be consistent with the basic governance system which focuses on human rights,” he said.

Long the target of criticism from human rights groups, Saudi Arabia has adopted a series of unprecedented reforms over the past year.

Last October, it welcomed a one-week visit by Dato’Param Cumaraswamy, UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, and in January allowed a visit by Human Rights Watch.

Cumaraswamy said he obtained a commitment from the Saudi government for the ratification of two “major international” human rights covenants on civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights.

He also urged the Saudi government to speed up judicial reforms and expressed concern over the administration of justice.

He praised Saudi Arabia for recently ratifying three international conventions — on the rights of the child, the elimination of discrimination against women, and against torture.

QATAR: In Doha, a royal decree announced the formation of a human rights body.

The 13-member committee is made up of eight representatives from government ministries and five human rights experts.

The five are a lawyer, a doctor, two univerity teachers and a woman, Qatar’s representative to the UNICEF, Sheikha Ghalia bint Mohammad bin Hamad al-Thani, who is a member of the ruling family.—AFP