According to the implementation of a package of measures to protect children in the Kingdom, the country has made great strides, Al-Ayban said, citing the drastic reduction which took place in infants mortality rate compared to dramatic rise in healthy births under qualified medical teams, increase of all vaccination rates to about 98 percent in 2014, leading to a zero rate of contracting children paralysis. He said King Abdulaziz and His Men Foundation for the Talented has played a great role in encouraging innovation among children and the youths, resulting in Saudi children and youths scoring leading ranks in international smart and innovation contests and competitions. He cast light on the Kingdom's benefit from the memorandum of understanding with the High Commission for Human Rights which covered a wide-range of programs over the past period. However, in 2016, they covered 17 diversified activities and programs, he said. In conclusion, Al-Ayban confirmed that the Kingdom, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is determined to continue its efforts aiming to enhance and protect human rights, including children rights, based on its Islamic Sharia constitutional principles which bar and criminalize violation of children rights. The Kingdom also took all measures and procedures to protect their rights according to its national legislations and commitments towards the Children Human Rights and other human rights agreements of which the Kingdom has become an effective party. --SPA 21:36 LOCAL TIME 18:36 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w