As the Council meets to adopt the Universal Periodic Review of Saudi Arabia, authorities in the country continue to commit widespread violations of basic human rights within and beyond its borders. Reforms remain inadequate and the government's ongoing and historic repression of independent civil society and critical voices impedes progress.
Dozens of human rights defenders and activists are serving long prison sentences for criticizing authorities or advocating for political and rights reforms. Some received decades-long sentences for alleged crimes based solely on their peaceful social media activity. Just one year ago, Saudi Arabia's Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Mohammed al-Ghamdi, a retired teacher, to death based solely on his peaceful social media posts.
Despite introducing some reforms migrant workers still face restrictions to change jobs or leave the country. Workers continue to pay exorbitant recruitment fees which employers are legally obliged to cover and wage theft is rampant. Domestic workers remain among the least protected and most vulnerable groups. Outdoor workers are exposed to dangerous levels of extreme heat, a serious health hazard which can have lifelong consequences or cause death.
In Yemen, civilian infrastructure that the Saudi and UAE-led coalition attacked in unlawful strikes remains damaged and destroyed, including schools, hospitals, and water and food infrastructure. Neither Saudi Arabia nor any coalition state has ensured credible accountability for its wrongdoing nor provided sufficient reparation to its victims.
There has been no investigation into the widespread and systematic killings of migrants and asylum seekers by Saudi border guard along the Saudi-Yemen borders. The killings, if part of a deliberate strategy to murder migrants, would constitute a crime against humanity. States should press Saudi Arabia to take urgent and concrete measures to implement all of the UPR recommendations.
