RIYADH: The head of the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) has pledged the Kingdom’s continued commitment to international efforts to protect and promote human rights. HRC president, Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, told a European Parliament delegation that the country had made “a qualitative leap” in addressing human rights issues. During talks at the commission’s headquarters with the chairperson of the committee of the Arabian Peninsula in the European Parliament, Hannah Neumann, and her accompanying delegation, he said: “The past three years have witnessed about 60 reforms dealing with human rights, 22 of them dedicated to empowering women.” The meeting discussed ways to develop cooperation between the Kingdom and the European Parliament regarding human rights issues. Under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom was going through a period of rapid reform and modernization which placed human rights as a top priority, Al-Awwad added. He noted that Saudi Arabia was fully committed to its international obligations on human rights and pointed out that the country’s Vision 2030 reform plan was aimed at ensuring the happiness, development and fulfilment of its citizens. “Our country is open to the world and still looks forward to achieving more accomplishments under its leadership and seeks to achieve principles and values of human rights. “The Kingdom looks forward to these values prevailing at the global level in a manner that promotes sustainable development efforts and the protection and promotion of human rights,” Al-Awwad said.