Riyadh, July 30, 2022, SPA-- President of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Dr. Awad bin Saleh Al-Awwad praised the Kingdom’s qualitative and constant successes internationally in combating human trafficking crimes, including its continued progress over the past two years in various relevant global indicators and classifications, emanating from the great interest it attaches to combating these crimes by enacting legislation and laws and setting firm measures to develop the legal and institutional structure to achieve the necessary protection for the public. In a press statement on the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which falls on the 30th of July each year, Dr. Al-Awwad said “the Kingdom's progress in the classifications and indicators of combating trafficking in persons internationally is a tangible translation of the keenness of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, to ensure the highest levels of protection of human rights in the Kingdom without discrimination, and their keenness to create a safe environment that achieves decent living to achieve Saudi Vision 2030.” He stressed that the Kingdom has given great attention to combating trafficking in persons and has put in place strict laws that will curb these crimes, prosecute and convict their perpetrators, issue strict sentences against them, and provide assistance and health, psychological and legal care to the victims. Dr. Al-Awwad underlined that the criminalization of human trafficking is receiving national attention through the efforts made by the Saudi government aimed at accelerating the control procedures per a solid legal system, in addition to its accession to international conventions and protocols that would confront these crimes, and the signing of several memoranda of cooperation with relevant international organizations and bodies, as well as adopting appropriate mechanisms to achieve the highest levels of coordination and cooperation locally between the Human Rights Commission, government agencies and civil society institutions, including the launch of the National Action Plan to combat trafficking in persons, the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for cases of trafficking in persons, and taking necessary national measures, noting that these efforts are intensifying to combat the crimes of trafficking in persons, and to curb all forms of affront to human dignity and violation of human rights. In this regard, he underscored the effective and constructive cooperation between various agencies and institutions in the public and private sectors, and the awareness of the society which contributes to strengthening the fight against trafficking in persons, and detecting and monitoring cases of trafficking. Dr. Al-Awwad concluded by stressing that the Kingdom does not tolerate trafficking in persons, and will move firmly to reach the best levels in combating this crime, holding accountable and deterring its perpetrators, and continuing its efforts to enhance the preservation of a society in which its members enjoy an environment that protects and respects their rights. --SPA 17:20 LOCAL TIME 14:20 GMT 0008 www.spa.gov.sa/w1767983