A Decade of Monitoring Human Rights in Saudi Arabia

It’s been 10 years since ALQST was established as an independent NGO to defend human rights in Saudi Arabia. As we mark our anniversary, this bilingual conference (first half in Arabic, second half in English), held the day before International Human Rights Day, will reflect on a decade of our work. 

We’ll discuss the challenges of monitoring human rights in such a repressive environment, and take stock of the alarming situation on the ground in Saudi Arabia today, exploring in detail the escalating execution crisis, which has seen over 270 individuals executed in 2024 alone, in stark contradiction to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s pledges to limit its use. Amid such repression, the numbers of Saudis fleeing their country has increased significantly over the past decade, creating a new diaspora, whose role a Saudi-panel will explore. 

And against the backdrop of the catastrophic violence taking place in the wider region, the event will reflect on how to conduct effective human rights advocacy in today’s political climate, drawing upon lessons learnt and looking to opportunities for impact ahead, including in the world of business, increasingly significant as Saudi Arabia and its Public Investment Fund (PIF) invests massively in global companies, giga-projects and sports and entertainment. 

Join us, along with leading voices (speakers to be announced soon).

(The event will be streamed live on ALQST's X and YouTube accounts. Please note that registration is only required for in-person attendance)

Programme

13:15-14:15: How to conduct effective human rights advocacy in the current political climate (Arabic)

14:15-15:15: The role of the Saudi diaspora in human rights monitoring (Arabic)

15:15-15:45: Break

15:45-16:45: Fact vs. fiction: The relentless increase in executions under MBS, and the official narrative (English)

16:45-17:45: What money can (or can’t) buy: Human rights implications of Saudi Arabia’s investments at home and abroad (English)

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Woburn House, Tavistock Square, London, United Kingdom