Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH – Experts from the United Nations who attended the five-day training program titled “Incorporating Human Rights Standards into the Work of Prison Staff”, were all praise for the progress made by Saudi Arabia in the protection of human rights of prisoners. The 5-day training program, which was carried it out in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, was launched by the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) on Sunday, March 1, and concluded on Thursday, March 5.

The program aimed to instill respect for prisoners’ rights by implementing the human rights standards included in the national regulations and international conventions and agreements to which the Kingdom is a signatory, to brief the staff on the mechanism, related international conventions, to implement these standards when dealing with prisoners, adopt a legal culture that reflects on the conduct of those assigned the task of carrying out the law so that there is respect for the prisoners.

The first session addressed definitions, concepts, characteristics and standards of human rights.

The second session reviewed human rights-related instruments and treaties. It also discussed the UN’s standard minimum rules for non-custodial measures; the national framework for human rights and prisons, and inhumane or degrading treatments or punishment.

The third session touched on safeguards protecting the rights of those detained or imprisoned, minimum guidelines for the treatment of prisoners, and principles for the protection of all people under any form of detention or imprisonment.

The fourth and last session discussed international instruments related to juvenile justice, and the UN’s principles for the prevention of juvenile delinquency.

The training program also dealt with prisoners’ rights that ought to be taken into consideration by the prison staff, how to make the optimum benefit from prisons, procedures for lodging complaints and carrying out inspection, the principle of nondiscrimination, and the procedures for dealing with women and the disabled under custody.

It comes within the sphere of the HRC’s efforts in protecting and promoting human rights, spreading awareness about them and ensuring their implementation at all levels.