Article 11 of the Saudi Human Rights Commission Statute
المادة 11 من تنظيم هيئة حقوق الإنسان
The article lists the Commission's departments and their tasks: legal affairs, international relations, complaints receiving, follow-up and investigation, public relations, and financial and administrative affairs.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتكون الهيئة من الإدارات التالية :
أ - إدارة الشؤون القانونية والدراسات والبحوث :
وتكون مهماتها تقديم الاستشارات الشرعية والنظامية المقارنة، فيما يتعلق بمسائل حقوق الإنسان، وما يحيله إليها مجلس الهيئة أو رئيسها، وكذلك الإسهام في إعداد تقارير المملكة الدورية المترتبة على انضمامها إلى الصكوك الدولية لحقوق الإنسان، وإعداد الرد على الدعاوى في مسائل حقوق الإنسان أو إقامتها.
ب - إدارة المنظمات والعلاقات الدولية :
وتكون مهماتها التنسيق مع المنظمات الدولية المختصة بمسائل حقوق الإنسان، الحكومية، وغير الحكومية، والمؤسسات المعنية بذلك، ومتابعة قضايا السعوديين الذين تتعرض حقوقهم للانتهاك خارج المملكة.
ج - إدارة تلقي الشكاوى :
وتكون مهماتها استقبال الشكاوى، من الأفراد والمؤسسات والمنظمات وغيرها، في مسائل حقوق الإنسان، والتحقق من صحتها، وذلك تمهيداً لإحالتها إلى الإدارة المعنية في الهيئة.
د - إدارة المتابعة والتحقيق :
وتكون مهماتها متابعة أي شكوى حتى الوصول إلى حلها، وزيارة السجون ودور التوقيف، وفقَ ما يقدره مجلس الهيئة في هذا الخصوص دون إذن من جهة الاختصاص، والتحقيق فيما يتطلب التحقيق فيه من مخالفات في مسائل حقوق الإنسان، ورفع النتائج إلى مجلس الهيئة.
هـ - إدارة العلاقات العامة :
وتكون مهماتها التنسيق بين الإدارات المعنية في الهيئة، وما يحيله إليها مجلس الهيئة أو رئيسها من طلبات في هذا الشأن، ومتابعة ما ينشر في وسائل الإعلام المختلفة فيما يتعلق بحقوق الإنسان، والإسهام في الترتيبات عند إقامة المؤتمرات والندوات ذات العلاقة.
و - إدارة الشؤون المالية والإدارية :
وتكون مهماتها متابعة شؤون منسوبي الهيئة، وما يتعلق بميزانيتها، وممتلكاتها، وما يكفل تسيير عملها.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 11 explained in plain English
This article sets out the departments of which the Human Rights Commission consists and the task of each:
- Legal Affairs, Studies and Research Department: giving Sharia and comparative legal advice on human rights matters, contributing to preparing the Kingdom's periodic reports arising from its accession to international instruments, and preparing responses to cases in these matters or bringing them.
- Organizations and International Relations Department: coordinating with international governmental and non-governmental organizations, and following up the cases of Saudis whose rights are violated outside the Kingdom.
- Complaints Receiving Department: receiving complaints from individuals, institutions, organizations and others on human rights matters, and verifying their validity before referring them to the department concerned.
- Follow-up and Investigation Department: following up any complaint until it is resolved, visiting prisons and detention houses as the Commission's board sees fit without permission from the competent authority, investigating violations that require investigation, and submitting the results to the Commission's board.
- Public Relations Department: coordinating among departments, following what is published in the media on human rights, and contributing to arrangements for conferences and seminars.
- Financial and Administrative Affairs Department: following up the affairs of the Commission's staff, its budget and its property.
The course of a complaint as the text sets it out: the Complaints Receiving Department receives it and verifies its validity, then it is referred to the department concerned, and the Follow-up and Investigation Department follows it until it is resolved. The article does not set periods for these stages or the way a complaint is submitted.
Anyone who wishes to submit a complaint or follow up the case of a relative outside the Kingdom should consult a lawyer specializing in administrative and human rights cases.
Practical example
Saad, a Saudi citizen studying abroad, was subjected to treatment that his family considered a violation of his rights. Among the tasks of the Commission's Organizations and International Relations Department is following up the cases of Saudis whose rights are violated outside the Kingdom, and the Complaints Receiving Department receives complaints from individuals and verifies their validity before referring them to the department concerned.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 11 of the Saudi Human Rights Commission Statute
Who receives complaints at the Human Rights Commission?
The Complaints Receiving Department, which receives them from individuals, institutions, organizations and others and verifies their validity before referring them to the department concerned.
Does the Human Rights Commission follow a complaint until it is resolved?
Yes. Among the tasks of the Follow-up and Investigation Department is following up any complaint until it is resolved.
Does the Commission follow up the cases of Saudis abroad?
Yes. Among the tasks of the Organizations and International Relations Department is following up the cases of Saudis whose rights are violated outside the Kingdom.
More articles on Commission Departments and Publishing Center
- Article 12
The article creates a center for publishing, media, documentation and translation in the human rights field, run by a full-time member, and sets its objectives and tasks: conferences, awareness, publications, courses and documentation.
ينشأ مركز للنشر والإعلام والتوثيق والترجمة في مجال حقوق الإنسان، ويديره أحد أعضاء مجلس الهيئة المتفرغين بناءً على ترشيح من رئيس الهيئة. ويهدف هذا المركز إلى الإ
- Article 13
The article makes the human rights departments and sections in the relevant ministries and government agencies a liaison point for the Human Rights Commission.
تكون إدارات حقوق الإنسان وأقسامها في الوزارات أو المصالح الحكومية ذات العلاقة ضابط اتصال للهيئة.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.