In partnership with the Education Administration in Makkah Region and on the occasion of World Human Rights Day, the National Society for Human Rights has organized an introductory forum on children’s rights and duties.

The first day of the forum has included a lecture on children’s rights and responsibilities, the role of the National Society for Human Rights, and the services it provides to support children’s rights. The session was moderated by Dr. Salwa Khayyat, a student guidance supervisor in Makkah’s Education Administration. Dr. Noura bint Zaid Al-Rashoud, Executive Director of the Permanent Independent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Ms. Al-Jawhara Al-Ghamdi, Director of the Society’s office in Jeddah have also participated in the session.

In addition, the second day of the forum was inaugurated in the presence of the Chairman of the National Society for Human Rights, Mr. Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al-Fakhri. In his opening speech, Mr. Khalid has shed light on the importance of raising awareness about the legal rights which are guaranteed by the regulations in Saudi Arabia, as well as the importance of proper upbringing and the role of families in that process.

Besides, Dr. Ali Al-Halouq, the Assistant Director-General of Education, spoke about the importance of partnership with the Society in spreading human rights awareness among students. Furthermore, it was followed by the opening of a discussion session focused on raising children’s awareness of their rights and ways to protect them from harm. The session was moderated by Mr. Suleiman Al-Zaidi, the supervisor of the Society’s branch in the Makkah region, with the participation of the prominent speakers, including Dr. Bakri Assas, former President of Umm Al-Qura University, and Dr. Abdulrazzaq Al-Thamali, a faculty member at Taif University.

The forum was also enriched by insightful contributions from the speakers, who worked to educate students in Makkah about their rights under Saudi laws. This initiative aimed to enhance societal awareness of the importance of protecting children’s rights and fostering a culture that respects their rights and supports their responsibilities.

The event has also featured an art exhibition that sought to spread awareness about children’s rights and duties through student-created artworks. Moreover, more than 3,000 male and female students, along with several teachers and members of the National Society for Human Rights, have participated in the forum.

Finally, at the end of the event, a recommendation was made to the Ministry of Education to adopt and publish a charter outlining students’ rights and duties within the student community, as well as to integrate human rights concepts into educational curricula.