RIYADH — Dr. Awwad Al-Awwad, the president of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), underscored on Wednesday the important role that civil society institutions can play in protecting human rights, especially in light of the diversity and independence guaranteed by the Kingdom’s regulations. He made the remarks while launching a training workshop to strengthen the capacities of civil society institutions in dealing with the international human rights mechanisms of the United Nations. The workshop was organized by the HRC within the framework of the technical cooperation program with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with the participation of international and national specialists and heads of civil society institutions. Al-Awwad stressed the significance of strengthening the capabilities of civil society institutions to deal with the international human rights mechanisms followed by the United Nations, and to activate their role in human rights activities in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, especially during the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20. Al-Awwad hailed the great attention paid by the Kingdom, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, to human rights and the regulatory and legislative reforms that brought about a fundamental change in the human rights file. He also commended the progress made in the civil society sector with the issuance of the law for civil society organizations and institutions. These institutions are playing a major role in various fields such as the rights of women, children and people with special needs, he noted. Al-Awwad said that the workshop comes within the framework of integrating efforts of government agencies and civil society institutions in protecting human rights so as to enhance their capabilities in this field. It is noteworthy that the first day sessions of the workshop deal with topics such as the international human rights law, the role of civil society institutions in protecting and promoting human rights, and providing an overview of the recommendations and concluding observations submitted by the United Nations mechanisms pertaining to the Kingdom. The second-day sessions will discuss the role of civil society during the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20, and activate its role in human rights in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.