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Saudi arabia - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 31, November 5, 2018
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

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Thank you, Mr. President. 

Canada is gravely concerned by the extrajudicial killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. All states must respect the right to life, promote and protect freedom of expression, ensure the safety of all its citizens, including journalists, and promptly respond to alleged violations.

Canada recommends that Saudi Arabia:

1. Conduct a thorough, credible, transparent, and prompt investigation into the death of Jamal Kashoggi.
2. Build upon efforts towards greater gender equality, including by removing barriers under the guardianship system.
3. Protect the freedom of expression of all human rights defenders, and foster an environment which is conducive to open debate, tolerant of dissenting voices, and protects individuals against retribution.
4. Work with other implicated parties to facilitate a permanent and peaceful end to the conflict in Yemen.
5. Remove provisions in the 2017 counter-terrorism law that call for incommunicado detention.

Canada takes note of the steps taken by Saudi Arabia to implement the national strategy on gender equality and encourages continued efforts to address all barriers impeding women’s full and equal participation in public, political and family life.

Background

According to UPR Info, a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that tracks the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Process, in the first two cycles of the UPR, Saudi Arabia received 348 recommendations, of which 240 were accepted (an acceptance rate of 70%).  Canada’s previous recommendations to Saudi Arabia were related to civil and political rights, economic and social rights, freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, children’s rights, and women’s rights. 

Saudi Arabia has undertaken several key social reforms, including changes to the guardianship system, making it easier for women to access workplaces and increasing mobility by lifting the ban on women driving.  There has been a reintroduction of entertainment activities and the government continues to curtail the scope and authority of the Mutawa “religious police”.  Saudi Arabia has also introduced a legal age of marriage of 18 years old for men and women, though under-aged marriage is still permitted with consent of the girl and mother, under the authority of a court.

Important challenges remain, however.  Women’s equality and participation continue to be limited by the guardianship system, particularly the requirement of male permission to obtain a passport for adult women. 

Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, and arbitrary detention of activists, journalists, and human rights defenders and other peaceful activists remain areas of concern. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism has expressed concern with the broad definition of terrorism employed by Saudi Arabia, and the use of the 2014 and 2017 counter-terrorism laws and other security provisions.  The UN and international human rights groups continue to express concern about the use of abuse and torture in Saudi prisons and detention facilities; confessions obtained under duress; the absence of credible complaint mechanisms; and the use of the death penalty following proceedings in which there are reported due process shortcomings. 

The Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen has attracted repeated criticism from the UN and international human rights organizations. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported that Coalition airstrikes, which have had an unacceptable and devastating impact on the people of Yemen, remain the largest cause of civilian deaths in what is now being described as the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.