A/HRC/25/3 9. Saudi Arabia explained that the Basic Law of Governance highlights the lofty principles and values that safeguard human dignity and protect fundamental rights and freedoms by stipulating that governance in Saudi Arabia is based on justice, consultation and equality. The Law also places the State under an obligation to protect human rights in accordance with Islamic sharia. 10. Saudi Arabia said that the independence of the judicial authority is a firmly established principle for the protection of human rights, since justice protects the lives, property, freedoms and rights of citizens. The project initiated by King Abdullah to develop the judicial authority is one of the most significant reform projects, which involves the adoption of statutes for the judiciary and the Board of Grievances. 11. Saudi Arabia reaffirmed that Islamic sharia guarantees fair gender equality and the State’s legislation does not differentiate between men and women. Article 8 of the Basic Law of Governance stipulates that governance in Saudi Arabia is based on justice and equality in accordance with Islamic sharia. Hence, women are full citizens in their own right and are endowed with independent financial and full legal capacity under which they enjoy freedom to dispose of their property and manage their affairs in a totally independent manner without seeking permission from anyone. 12. Saudi Arabia highlighted that Saudi women are contributing to national decisionmaking through their membership in the Consultative Council in which they are allocated a minimum of 20 per cent of seats, in addition to their right to vote and stand as candidates in municipal council elections. Women also hold senior posts in the government sector, where the number of female employees rose by about 8 per cent during the last year alone. 13. Saudi Arabia affirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of the child, not only in its capacity as a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the two Optional Protocols thereto, but also in fulfilment of its obligations derived from the provisions of Islamic sharia which seek to ensure the best interests of the child in all circumstances. 14. Saudi Arabia stated that it has taken further steps to protect women and children from violence and abuse through the adoption of numerous measures, including promulgation of the Protection from Harm Act. 15. Saudi Arabia added that it is taking all the non-discriminatory measures necessary to protect the rights of more than 9 million foreign workers. Numerous decisions have been promulgated and control mechanisms have been established to help to safeguard their rights, including: • An electronic mechanism for the protection of workers’ wages; • Mandatory health insurance; • Bilateral agreements between Saudi Arabia and the countries of origin of workers, particularly domestic workers. 16. Saudi Arabia ensures that workers are able to report violations and that the new Labour Law is being properly applied. Moreover, cases of forced labour constitute forms of trafficking in persons which are governed by the Suppression of Crimes of Trafficking in Persons Act. 17. Saudi Arabia underscored that its regulations prohibit any religious discrimination in employment and permit workers to perform their religious duties in accordance with articles 61 and 104 of the Labour Law. 18. Saudi Arabia highlighted that it provides general and higher education free of charge and has established an independent commission to evaluate general education with a view to improving its quality and increasing its output. 4