Advocacy & Campaigns

ALQST raises individual cases as well as patterns and new trends of human rights violations with various international, regional and national bodies, including the UN human rights system, EU institutions and the British parliament, as well as individual stakeholders such as diplomats and companies doing business with Saudi Arabia. ALQST also conducts global campaigns via social media activity as well as online materials and in-person protests to raise awareness about human rights violations.

Briefings

An Open Field for Violations: Saudi Arabia’s 2034 FIFA World Cup bid

Neom: A human rights and environmental impact assessment

Abdulrahman al-Sadhan: Humanitarian worker sentenced to 20 years in prison

Girls’ and Women’s ‘Care Institutions’ in Saudi Arabia (Dar al-Re‘aya)

A Soft Touch? Human Rights and the UK-Saudi Relationship

Articles

Advocacy & Campaigns States should refrain from voting for Saudi Arabia in upcoming Human Rights Council elections at the UN General Assembly

Ahead of the 9 October UN Human Rights Council election at the UN General Assembly, we wrote an open letter to urge delegations to refrain from voting for Saudi Arabia.

2024-10-02

Advocacy & Campaigns UN Secretary-General report highlights reprisals against Saudi HRDs: Calls for concerted action

In his latest annual report on reprisals presented on 17 September 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres drew attention to Saudi human rights defenders Loujain al-Hathloul and Mohammed al-Qahtani.

2024-09-27

Advocacy & Campaigns Saudi Arabia must free detainees jailed for their online expression ahead of Internet Governance Forum

40 NGOs call on Saudi Arabia to free all individuals arbitrarily detained solely for their online expression ahead of hosting the 2024 United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Riyadh.

2024-09-06

Advocacy & Campaigns Over 30 US lawmakers urge President Biden to press Saudi Arabia for the release of prisoners of conscience

Over 30 US lawmakers have written to US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging them to press immediately for the unconditional release of prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia.

2024-08-08

Advocacy & Campaigns International access will be needed to follow up on mixed Saudi response to UPR recommendations

Saudi Arabia’s contradictory response to its fourth UPR, the outcome of which has now been adopted, casts doubt on the sincerity of its stated intention to improve its dismal human rights record

2024-07-23

Advocacy & Campaigns ALQST delivers joint oral statements during Saudi Arabia’s UPR adoption

On 5 July 2024, during the UN Human Rights Council’s adoption of Saudi Arabia’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), ALQST’s Lina Alhathloul and Celia Le Noe delivered joint oral statements alongside partner NGOs.

2024-07-16

Advocacy & Campaigns 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council: ALQST and partners address dire human rights situation in Saudi Arabia

As the second week of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC)’s 56th session comes to an end, ALQST thanks our partners for our collaboration to bring human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia to the HRC's attention.

2024-06-28

Advocacy & Campaigns Waleed Abu al-Khair to receive Anna Dahlbäck award for 2024

ALQST is delighted that detained Saudi human rights defender Waleed Abu al-Khair has been chosen to receive the Anna Dahlbäck Foundation Memorial Fund bursary for 2024.

2024-06-27

Advocacy & Campaigns Saudi Arabia Falls Short of Respecting Migrants’ Rights: Human Rights Organizations Call for Urgent Action

The interactive dialogue with the special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants at the United Nations Human Rights Council on June 25 2024 should condemn the situation of migrants’ rights in Saudi Arabia.

2024-06-26

Advocacy & Campaigns ALQST’s top 10 tips for the incoming UK government on leveraging Saudi human rights improvements

Following the UK general election on July 4, ALQST urges UK MPs to make more robust use of the UK’s close ties with Saudi Arabia to actively promote human rights there.

2024-06-13

Advocacy & Campaigns ALQST team make advocacy trip to the US

A team of senior ALQST staffers recently returned from a successful trip to the United States.

2024-06-06

Advocacy & Campaigns ALQST urges business leaders at UK-Saudi trade expo to ensure non-complicity in rights abuses

As a 450-strong British delegation travels to Riyadh to take part in a government-led UK-Saudi trade expo, ALQST urges business leaders taking part to closely examine their corporate responsibilities.

2024-05-15

Advocacy & Campaigns Ten years after his arbitrary arrest, NGOs call for Saudi human rights defender Waleed Abu al-Khair to be released

Monday, 15 April 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Saudi human rights defender Waleed Abu al-Khair, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence as a result of his peaceful human rights activism.

2024-04-15

Advocacy & Campaigns Saudi Arabia unfit for its new role as chair of UN gender equality body

ALQST for Human Rights believes that Saudi Arabia is unfit to take up its recent appointment as chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, the United Nations’ main forum for promoting gender equality.

2024-04-09

Advocacy & Campaigns New assault on freedom of expression, thought and belief as Saudi authorities put football fans on trial for chants

ALQST and partners release statement on members of Al Safa FC’s supporters association, due to appear in court for charges in relation to religious folklore chants during a football match on 24 January 2024.

2024-03-27

Advocacy & Campaigns University of Leeds community urges Vice-Chancellor to call for release of Saudi PhD student Salma al-Shehab

Three hundred and forty academics, students and employees at the University of Leeds have signed a letter calling on its leaders to take a stronger stand in support of PhD student Salma al-Shehab.

2024-03-26