A/HRC/40/4 their business. Some 30 women had been appointed to the Consultative Council, representing 20 per cent of its total members, and women had been granted the right to vote and to stand as candidates for membership of municipal councils. Six women had been appointed to the board of the Human Rights Commission and a number of Saudi women had been appointed to senior positions, such as deputy minister, university principal and chair of the board of directors in several companies. 9. The establishment of the Family Affairs Council was a significant step towards the development of an institutional framework to protect and promote the rights of women and the family, specifically because the Council had assigned one committee to be responsible for women’s affairs and another for family protection. The promulgation of the Protection against Abuse Act of 21 September and its implementing regulations aimed to address all forms of violence against women. A complaints centre had been established in 2016 to receive reports of domestic violence. Under Supreme Order No. 906 of 26 September 2017, the relevant agencies were authorized to apply the provisions of the Traffic Act equally to both men and women to enhance women’s right to freedom of movement. In that regard, driving licences had been issued to women and they had been able to drive legally from 24 June 2018. 10. Saudi Arabia played a role in supporting and helping the people of Yemen and its legitimate Government in its conflict with the Houthi militias, in full compliance with the provisions and rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Saudi Arabia was striving to protect civilians, particularly women and children, and civilian objects, from the impact of the conflict. 11. With regard to the tragic accident that had resulted in the death of the Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi, the head of the delegation made it clear that Saudi Arabia had been founded upon the principles of Islamic sharia that emphasized and were derived from the values and principles of justice. The leadership of Saudi Arabia had expressed its pain concerning the accident, and the public prosecutor had already started investigating the cause in accordance with the laws in force in Saudi Arabia, aiming to find out all the facts. Any person convicted in the case would be prosecuted in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations in Saudi Arabia that ensured a fair and independent trial. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 12. During the interactive dialogue, 96 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 13. Uzbekistan welcomed the adoption of Saudi Vision 2030, which included a number of goals that were linked to and addressed a number of human rights. 14. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela welcomed the progress made by Saudi Arabia in improving education, promoting women’s empowerment and combating violence against women. 15. Yemen appreciated the enactment of laws and policies in the fields of health care and child protection, and the adoption of strategies to protect food security and the environment. 16. Algeria welcomed the efforts made by Saudi Arabia to harmonize current laws with its human rights obligations, in particular with regard to women’s rights in education and development. 17. Argentina was concerned by the application of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, particularly when it was applied to minors. 18. Belgium was concerned about restrictions on freedom of expression and association and about acts of intimidation and reprisal. It called for an investigation into the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. 19. Austria noted the improvements made in relation to women’s rights but remained concerned about the continued and frequent use of the death penalty. 3