A/HRC/11/L.10
page 116
474. The Arab Commission for Human Rights welcomed the acceptance of
recommendations 1, 2 and 3 concerning the issue of ratification of a number of international
instruments, in particular the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and
recommended the establishment of a national mechanism for prison visits and the prevention of
torture. It also welcomed the acceptance of recommendation 23 on the minimum age and legal
safeguards regarding corporal punishment. The Commission expressed concern at claims
regarding the death penalty, and requested that all international commitments and conventions in
this regard be respected. It invited the State to avoid special trials, and called upon it to send a
standing invitation to special rapporteurs and to invite the High Commissioner for Human Rights
to visit the country.
475. Action internationale pour la paix et le développement dans la région des Grands Lacs
welcomed the efforts of Saudi Arabia to promote education and the protection of young people,
establish mechanisms to combat violence in the family, and apply the law to people with
disabilities. It noted the progress in promoting freedom of expression and opinion, the adoption
of the law on governance, the law on the Choura advisory council, the law on criminal
procedures, and the rights of children, women and migrant workers. It added that the selectivity
and partiality of the International Criminal Court might explain the non-ratification of the Rome
Statute by Saudi Arabia. It commended the State for the freedom of religion guaranteed to
non-Muslims and the elaboration of a peace plan, backed by the Arab League, with a view to
negotiating a solution to the Middle-East problem. It welcomed the commitments of
Saudi Arabia to the Millennium Development Goals to assist developing countries by
donating $500 million.
476. The Indian Council of South America, in a joint statement with the International Human
Rights Association of American Minorities, Cercle de recherche sur les droits et les devoirs de la
personne humaine, the Charitable Institute for Protecting Social Victims, the Organization for
Defending Victims of Violence and Organisation pour la communication en Afrique et de
promotion de la coopération économique internationale, noted the generous contributions of
Saudi Arabia to developing countries and to people in need. It called on the Government to
continue working towards more high-level appointments of women, and to step-up the process to
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