[Geneva] - Responding to Saudi Arabia's failure to win a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, Sigrid Lipott, United Nations Advisor at CIVICUS, said: "Saudi Arabia’s abysmal human rights record over the past few years demonstrates it has no intention of upholding basic human dignity anytime soon. The Saudi regime terrorizes its opponents and commits unprecedented repression. Saudi Arabia continues to limit freedom of expression, target women activists, and suppress dissenting voices."
"The Human Rights Council plays a crucial role in addressing global violations and serves as a platform for activists and victims of violation. We call on states to hold competitive elections so only truly committed states are elected to the UN Human Rights Council".
Background
CIVICUS called on UN member states to reject Saudi Arabia’s candidacy and uphold human rights standards when selecting members of the UN’s top human rights body.
CIVICUS and CIVICUS member, the Gulf Center for Human Rights made a joint submission in 2023 ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Univeral Periodic Review (UPR). ALQST for Human Rights made three submissions with partners to the UN Human Rights Council, ahead of Saudi Arabia’s fourth cycle of the UPR, documenting the deteriorating human rights situation in the kingdom since the last UPR in 2018. Gulf Centre for Human Rights, ALQST, MENA Rights Group, Reprieve, Amnesty International and the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR) worked together at the UN to carry out advocacy with member states ahead of the UPR.
Further reading:
Members of the Human Rights Council must protect and expand civic space (Statement, 09 October 2023)
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