
Madinah governor receives Iraqi consul general
Madinah Gov. Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz received at his office on Wednesday Mohammed Samir Al-Naqshbandi, consul general of Iraq and permanent representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as his term in the Kingdom comes to an end.
During the meeting, they discussed various topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Fareed bin Saad Al-Shehri, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' branch in Makkah, received Consul General of Singapore Chandra Kumar in Jeddah on Wednesday.
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Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi UN envoy demands global action to protect kids in conflict zones, condemns Gaza violence
NEW YORK CITY: Saudi Arabia's permanent representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, called on Wednesday for urgent international action to protect children in conflict zones, warning that failure to do so would undermine efforts to build more stable and prosperous societies. Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting convened to discuss the effects of armed conflicts on youngsters, Alwasil emphasized the importance of protecting children, describing it as a legal obligation and moral responsibility, particularly in nations affected by prolonged violence. During the session, UN officials detailed an unprecedented surge in the number of grave violations against children during armed conflicts worldwide. The meeting followed the publication of a devastating annual report by the UN secretary-general's special representative for children and armed conflict, Virginia Gamba. It documented 41,370 grave violations against children during 2024, a 25 percent increase compared with the previous year, and the highest number since the UN's Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism was established in 2005. The verified abuses of children spanned 25 countries and included killings, maiming, recruitment, abductions, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of access to humanitarian assistance. 'This year marked a devastating new record,' Gamba told council members. 'Behind these numbers are the shattered stories, dreams and futures of over 22,000 children.' She cited a sharp increase in 'compounded violations,' in which children were abducted, recruited and sexually abused, often simultaneously, in the context of deteriorating humanitarian crises. Israel was responsible for the highest number of violations by a single country against children in 2024, the report stated. Alwasil said: 'As we approach the 20th anniversary of Resolution 1612, which established mechanisms for monitoring violations against children in armed conflict, the international community must focus on two priorities: We must break the cycle of violence and create an environment that rejects extremism and fosters resilience.' The envoy expressed appreciation for Gamba's work, and emphasized the Kingdom's commitment to the application of international legal instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols. He stressed the shared responsibility of all parties for the protection of children and for efforts to address the root causes of armed violence. Turning to the crisis in Gaza in particular, Alwasil sharply rebuked Israeli authorities over their military operations in the territory. 'What is happening in Gaza now is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and humanitarian values,' he said. 'Civilians live under constant bombardment and a suffocating blockade, facing systematic aggression by Israeli armed forces. This has led to the deaths of 55,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.' The war has deprived more than 1 million children in Gaza of basic necessities, including food and medicine, Alwasil said. He called for immediate international action to end the conflict, protect vulnerable populations and hold accountable those responsible for violations. 'The Kingdom affirms that the protection of children in areas of armed conflict is a legal duty that cannot be shirked, and a moral responsibility that cannot be ignored,' he concluded. 'Saudi Arabia supports all UN efforts aimed at protecting civilians, and enhancing international cooperation to respond to the suffering of children affected by war, wherever they may be.'


Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
Madinah governor receives Iraqi consul general
Madinah Gov. Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz received at his office on Wednesday Mohammed Samir Al-Naqshbandi, consul general of Iraq and permanent representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as his term in the Kingdom comes to an end. During the meeting, they discussed various topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Meanwhile, Fareed bin Saad Al-Shehri, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' branch in Makkah, received Consul General of Singapore Chandra Kumar in Jeddah on Wednesday.


Asharq Al-Awsat
13 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Justice Minister Chairs 74th Meeting of Executive Bureau of Council of Arab Justice Ministers
Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani chaired the 74th meeting of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Justice Ministers, held in Rabat, following his re-election as chairman for a new term. Dr. Al-Samaani expressed appreciation to the bureau's members for their renewed confidence, emphasizing the importance of strengthening Arab cooperation in all judicial matters, in line with the resolutions of the Council of Arab Justice Ministers, SPA reported. The meeting addressed the Arab Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism and its implementation mechanisms, as well as the promotion of Arab and international cooperation in combating terrorism. Participants also reviewed proposals for harmonizing Arab legislation, including the draft Arab Model Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the draft Arab Guiding Law on the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Arab States.