The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has said that it attaches great importance to protecting children from violence, and that its obligations are to ensure a safe environment that enables children to grow and thrive free from any form of violence.
Saudi Arabia's speech, delivered by a member of the official delegation to Geneva, Mitab Al-Makhlafi, during the discussion of the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children before the 58th session of the Human Rights Council on March 14, 2025, praised Saudi Arabia's regulations, including the anti-human trafficking system and accession to the relevant international conventions.
ESOHR points out that at least 9 minors are currently facing the death penalty under judicial sentences, 8 of them facing charges that are not the most serious in international law, in a practice that contradicts claims to ensure a safe environment for children. The organization explains that Saudi Arabia insists on killing minors despite international calls and legal opinions that the sentences violate international laws.
The organization believes that local regulations and international treaties to protect children from violations cannot be trusted in light of the continued issuance and implementation of death sentences against minors