Riyadh, July 30, 2020, SPA -- President of Human Rights Commission Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad has affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is exerting continuous efforts to promote and protect human rights and to prevent and combat crimes of trafficking in persons through its commitment to the provisions of Islamic Sharia, which prohibits all forms of insulting human dignity and affirms the respect and the preservation of human rights. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also enacted laws and regulations to protect human rights, in addition to its commitment locally and internationally by signing and joining agreements and treaties that promote human rights. This came in a speech by the President on the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, which falls on 30 July each year. This day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness of this crime and the suffering of victims and to enhance their rights and protection. Dr. Al-Awwad added that based on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s awareness of this crime and the necessity of joining together various government agencies to prevent and combat it, Saudi Arabia has undertaken major reforms upon the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and with continuous follow-up from His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. Saudi Arabia issued national regulations that enhance its efforts to combat trafficking in persons crimes and prevent their occurrence, by protecting the victims and punishing the perpetrators of this crime.  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries to adhere to the international agreements that criminalize and combat this crime, he added The President of Human Rights Commission also stated that the National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen on this issue. The committee continuously seeks to combat trafficking in persons crimes at the local level through the role of the concerned authorities on the committee. It  provides support and assistance to victims, and emphasizes the prosecution and punishment of perpetrators. It also partners with international organizations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Organization for Migration, which aims to strengthen the capabilities of individuals regarding methods to identify potential victims of trafficking in persons. It also aims at benefiting from best practices and experiences in applying the national referral mechanism for crimes of trafficking in persons in Saudi Arabia, in addition to analyzing data with the utmost efficiency. --SPA 16:00 LOCAL TIME 13:00 GMT 0018 www.spa.gov.sa/w1381590