October 26, 2003	Sunday	Sha’aban 29, 1424

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RIYADH, Oct 25: The first human rights conference in Saudi Arabia is to begin on Monday in Riyadh. The Saudi interior minister Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz will inaugurate the conference, expected to highlight Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and explain the aspects of human rights in peace and war time in light of the Sahriat.

For the first time over the last year or so, human rights delegates from a UN body and a group of observers from a western human rights group visited the Kingdom to assess the prevailing situation, where they were given access to anyone they wanted to see and discuss.

Some 35-research papers, including six by women, will be presented during the conference. Princess Hussa Bint Salman will present a paper on the Kingdom’s position on human rights whereas, Dr Khadeja Abdul Majed’s paper will focus on prevention of violence against women.

In order to override the concerns expressed in the Western world on the status of human rights in the Kingdom, King Fahd has already approved the formation of two human rights body in Saudi Arabia.

One of the bodies would be a government body entrusted with the task of implementing government decisions regarding human rights, and to reform local laws, so they are consistent with the basic system of governance, which focuses on human rights.

The human rights conference is being organized by the Saudi Red Crescent Society with the active cooperation of the interior, justice and the foreign ministries of the Kingdom.