WUNRN
Convention
on the Rights of the Child
|
Saudi
Arabia |
|
26
Jan 1996 a |
Saudi
Arabia 22
Reservation:
[The
Government of Saudi Arabia enters] reservations with respect to all such
articles as are in conflict with the provisions of Islamic law.
______________________________________________________________
Saudi
Arabia - Human Rights Commission Calls Against Marriage of Minors
Saudi Gazette - 08 October, 2010
The
Human Rights Commission (HRC) has called upon individuals, civil groups and the
media to stand against the marriage of minors, describing the marriage of young
girls to older males as a “violation of children’s rights found in the
Convention on the Rights of the Child of which the Kingdom is a signatory”.
The government-affiliated HRC said in a press statement Wednesday that it was
in the process of drawing up a legal framework to protect against the abuse of
underage girls’ rights.
“We are continuing to work with the relevant bodies to follow up and prevent
cases like these,” the statement said. “Full awareness is required of the need
to protect children and provide them with a safe and stable family
environment.” The statement said that HRC head Bandar Al-Aiban had ordered a
new committee immediately following recent press reports of a 13-year-old girl
married off to a man in his fifties.
“HRC specialists were tasked with investigating all the circumstances behind
the case. This is a violation of the rights of this child, who still needs family
care and an education, and to enjoy her childhood.”
The HRC has been carrying out studies into the marriage of minors from “legal,
social, psychological and health angles”, noting the “serious damage caused to
the child and society at large”.
“The media in its various forms has a significant part to play in standing
against violations of children’s rights and promoting awareness of the
dangers,” the HRC said.