A/HRC/11/L.10
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acceptance would contribute to the development of the Saudi human rights environment, it had
decided to accept most of the recommendations. The reasons for non-acceptance of a few
recommendations are explained in document A/HRC/11/23/Add.1.
451. Being aware that the acceptance of recommendations entailed considerable endeavours for
their implementation, Saudi Arabia would continue its efforts in keeping with its belief that the
realization of human rights was an integral part of the obligations that Islamic sharia commanded
Saudi Arabia to fulfil.
452. The ongoing development process and political will had taken the form of sustainable
development programmes to promote and protect human rights. Reference was made to some
examples illustrating what had been achieved during the period following the discussion of the
report on Saudi Arabia on 6 February 2009.
453. In the judicial field, royal decrees had been promulgated calling for the establishment of a
supreme council of the judiciary, a supreme court, a council of the administrative judiciary and a
supreme administrative court. These developments fell within the new statutes of the judiciary,
which strengthened the independence of the judicial authority, established specialized labour,
criminal and commercial courts and recognized the principle of two levels of jurisdiction.
454. New statutes for municipal councils currently being formulated would take into
consideration the experience gained from the current municipal council elections, expand the
scope of participation by citizens in the management of local affairs and develop the electoral
process.
455. The consultative council had also approved the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act,
which met international standards for the prevention and punishment of human trafficking.
456. Regarding the expansion of participation by women, a woman had been appointed assistant
mayor of the city of Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia. Women had also been
appointed as vice-ministers, university president, deputy ministers and deans of faculties, and the
number of female counsellors in the consultative council has been increased from 6 to 12.
Provision had been made for women to engage in all commercial and industrial and service
activities without exception, in the same way as men.
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