Finland’s UN ambassador in Geneva, Ms. Kirsti Kauppi, expressed her country’s deep concern over the prolonged detention of men and women human rights advocates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In her statement during the discussions of Item 4 of the 45th session of the Human Rights Council, Ms. Kauppi noted the persistence of discriminatory practices against women and girls in the country.
The statement called on governments to protect dissident human rights advocates, politicians, and all journalists from targeting, violence, and arbitrary detention. Likewise, Ms. Kauppi affirmed that the right of all to express opinions, establish associations, and peacefully assembly must be respected.
Saudi Arabia detains dozens of men and women human rights advocates, while also continuing to target, and even kill, journalists.