United Nations HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
25TH SESSION (3 -28 March 2014)

Adoption of the Report of the Working Group
on the Universal Periodic Review of Saudi Arabia
(19 March 2014)

Statement by India

Mr. President,

1.India warmly welcomes the delegation of Saudi Arabia for the adoption the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of Saudi Arabia. We thank the delegation for providing its response to recommendations as an addendum to the report and its statement.

2. We commend Saudi Arabia for the receptive and constructive manner in which it participated in the UPR mechanism. The review reflected the intense participation and engagement by peer countries, with as many as 225 recommendations made. It is encouraging to note that Saudi Arabia accepted as many as 188 of those recommendations, which covers a range of human rights both in the realm of promotion and protection.

3. Saudi Arabia’s efforts in streamlining the labour situation in the country, particularly by providing an opportunity to overstaying migrant workers to correct their legal status or to leave the country without facing penal action, is commendable.

4. India believes that Saudi Arabia will continue with its efforts to implement the recommendations accepted by it in the coming years. We warmly congratulate Saudi Arabia for its successful review.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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