Jeddah (Buna) – The Director of the General Department of Studies and Research at the Human Rights Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Dr. Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al-Mansour, explained that the youth category in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia constitutes a demographic and strategic weight, as the age group (15-34 years) represents about 36% of the population, and those under 36 years are estimated at about two-thirds of the total population, which made their issues among the priorities of Saudi Vision 2030.
During his participation in the third discussion session held yesterday, entitled “The Role of National Human Rights Institutions and the Media in Protecting Youth Rights,” as part of the work of the twenty-sixth session of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission, Al-Mansour stressed that the Saudi Human Rights Commission plays a pivotal role in promoting and protecting youth rights, through monitoring the implementation of systems and regulations related to human rights and the Kingdom’s regional and international obligations resulting from its accession to a number of relevant treaties, expressing opinions on systems and their drafts, receiving complaints and monitoring violations, and spreading the culture of human rights.
The advanced institutional performance of government agencies, in light of these roles, also reflects a direct contribution to strengthening the human rights system for all groups, especially the youth.
During the session, he addressed four interconnected themes to review some of the best practices that translate national policies into practical actions for promoting and protecting youth rights. These themes range from the strategic framework and economic empowerment to community participation and digital transformation. The aim is to demonstrate the integration of the legislative framework with the institutional framework and implementation programs designed to empower youth as partners in development.
First axis: The national strategic framework for promoting youth rights:
He pointed out that the National Strategic Framework for the Advancement of Youth Rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stems from Saudi Vision 2030, a clear vision translated into integrated executive programs and initiatives developed in coordination with relevant stakeholders to achieve its objectives. These programs align with the Sustainable Development Goals and international human rights standards, ensuring a comprehensive, rights-based approach. Youth are at the heart of this framework, serving as the driving force behind development and active partners in achieving sustainable impact. Among the practices that can be described as successful in this regard are the following:
The Human Capacity Development Program helped provide more than 1.3 million training opportunities until the end of last year, 2024. The percentage of graduates joining the labor market during six months rose to 44%, compared to 13% in 2019. In addition, more than 30,000 young men and women graduated from board and vocational rehabilitation programs, which is considered an enhancement of the right to education and decent work.
The activities of the Health Transformation Program until the end of last year, 2024, contributed to reducing traffic accident deaths by 57% since 2016. This is a very important effect, considering that young people are the most vulnerable group to road hazards. This reinforces the right to life for all groups, including young people, which is consistent with one of the four principles on which the Convention on the Rights of the Child is based, which is the principle of the right to life, survival and development.
The housing program also contributed to raising the homeownership rate to more than 65% in 2024, which was supported by flexible financing solutions targeting all segments of society, including newly employed youth, in addition to expanding the scope of developmental housing to enable young people with limited income to obtain decent housing, thus enshrining the principle of leaving no one behind.
Through the National Transformation Program, the Adaptation Certificate was launched, which aims to license supportive work environments for people with disabilities. The number of establishments that obtained the Adaptation Certificate in 2023 was more than 2,600 establishments, while in 2025 it doubled and became 5,900 establishments, and this in turn enhances the rights of young people with disabilities.
Through the Quality of Life Program initiatives, 368,000 jobs were created in the culture, sports, entertainment, and tourism sectors. Additionally, the number of adults engaging in regular physical activity reached 58% in 2024.
Second axis: The role of legislative and institutional efforts in the economic and developmental empowerment of youth:
The economic and social empowerment of youth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is based on integrated legislative and institutional efforts aimed at building a fair and secure labor market founded on the principles of justice, equality, and non-discrimination. Legislative developments and national policies have contributed to aligning empowerment objectives with international human rights standards and the Sustainable Development Goals. Youth are at the forefront of these efforts as the primary drivers of economic growth and social stability. Among the successful practices in this regard are the following:
The Kingdom has witnessed a fundamental update to several systems related to human rights protection in various fields, including the Protection from Abuse Law, the Child Protection Law, the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Personal Data Protection Law. This has contributed to establishing a legal framework that not only sets rules but also activates mechanisms for oversight, accountability, and effective remedies, thereby strengthening young people's trust in institutions that strive to achieve justice, equality, and dignity for every individual.
The results of the Edelman 2025 Global Trust Barometer confirmed the Kingdom's leading position globally with a 87% trust rating in the government. This reflects the success of legislative and institutional reforms in providing a stable and attractive environment, which forms the basis for empowering young people professionally and economically. The labor market is one of the most prominent areas embodying the principles of justice and equality, as the Kingdom hosts more than 15 million workers from over 60 nationalities who enjoy their rights without discrimination. The labor system has witnessed qualitative development that has strengthened these principles, supported by national policies that translate them into practical practices, which in turn contribute to protecting and promoting human rights in general and enhancing the right to work in particular.
National policies supporting and enabling youth within the framework of the right to work have been adopted. These include the National Policy for Promoting Equal Opportunities and Equality in Employment and Occupation, the National Policy for Eliminating Forced Labor, and the National Action Plan for Preventing Child Labor. These policies have formed an integrated framework that strengthens labor system guarantees and establishes a fair and safe working environment for all groups, including young people.
Women's participation in the labor market has exceeded 35.5%, with a growth rate exceeding 108% since 2017. Their participation in the fields of technology and cybersecurity has also risen to 32%, surpassing the global average, reflecting the expansion of quality economic opportunities for young women.
The Human Resources Development Fund is one of the enablers for realizing the right of young people to decent work, as data shows that 88% of beneficiaries of the Fund’s support programs remain active in the labor market one year after the end of support, which is a strong indicator of job stability.
The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) has launched several programs aimed at empowering young people to achieve professional growth and enter the job market. One such program is the "Wusool" initiative, which covers 80% of the commuting costs for people with disabilities. In 2024, the Fund facilitated the employment of over 400,000 young people (48% male and 52% female). The Fund also supports job seekers in obtaining professional certifications that enable them to enter the workforce.
– Third axis: Community participation and contribution to decision-making among youth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
Enhancing youth participation in community engagement and decision-making in Saudi Arabia stems from a participatory institutional approach that aims to involve young people in public affairs as partners in development and policymaking. Dialogue platforms, digital initiatives, training programs, and innovative projects are integrated to achieve this goal, in line with human rights principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. This approach reflects the Kingdom's belief in the role of youth in building social cohesion and promoting peace and stability. Successful practices in this area include the following:
– Launching a survey platform aimed at gathering public opinion from individuals, government entities, and the private sector regarding regulations, bylaws, and related matters issued by government agencies concerning the economic and developmental environment before their enactment. The platform serves as a tool to empower youth by enabling them to participate in expressing their views on government policies, regulations, and bylaws, thereby strengthening their right to public participation and solidifying the partnership between government agencies and society. The platform has received over 72,000 documented opinions on more than 2,018 draft regulations, bylaws, and policies.
– Coinciding with International Human Rights Day on December 10, the Human Rights Commission launched the “Human Rights Expert” program last year as a qualitative initiative to empower youth and national cadres to contribute effectively to promoting and protecting human rights, by preparing and qualifying them intellectually, skillfully, and practically in
- Various fields of human rights, in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
The program contributes to building national capacities capable of moving from theoretical knowledge to effective practice and policy-making, reflecting a participatory and investment-oriented approach to human capital, consistent with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, and enhancing the role of youth as partners in building more just and peaceful societies.
– Coinciding with International Human Rights Day this year, the Human Rights Commission launched the “Haqthon” initiative (Human Rights Hackathon) as an innovative practice aimed at empowering youth to actively participate and create solutions. This is achieved by leveraging digital technologies and community creativity to develop practical ideas and solutions that promote a culture of human rights. The initiative engages young people from various sectors and disciplines, and from all regions of the Kingdom, to integrate their outputs into the Commission’s future plans and projects. This reflects a modern participatory approach that strengthens the role of youth as partners in decision-making, aligning with the Commission’s mandate to develop human rights awareness and in accordance with the Kingdom’s fundamental principles.
Regulatory reforms have contributed to the ease of establishing associations in general, including youth and community associations, which has provided young people with organized institutional spaces to participate in social, cultural, developmental and voluntary initiatives, and to enhance their role in addressing community issues, building social cohesion, and contributing to positively influencing the evaluation and making of public policies.
The King Abdulaziz Center for Cultural Communication conducted more than 43 dialogue sessions during 2024, including specialized meetings that discussed issues related to youth, identity, coexistence, and shared values. The majority of attendees at these sessions were young people. These dialogues contributed to promoting a culture of dialogue, rejecting extremism, and establishing the values of peace and understanding as preventative tools for building social stability.
– Fourth axis: The role of digital transformation in protecting and promoting youth rights:
The digital transformation in Saudi Arabia embodies a strategic path aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of young people by ensuring fair and equitable access to services, education, and digital justice. This transformation is driven by a clear vision that considers digital rights a natural extension of human rights, aligning with international standards and the Sustainable Development Goals. This framework places young people at the heart of digitalization as the most engaged, affected, and influential group in building a fair and inclusive digital society. Among the most successful practices in this regard are the following:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched several high-quality platforms, such as Absher for civil services and Najiz for judicial services. In addition, the Madrasati e-learning platform was praised this year by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as a free and open platform for all, promoting equal educational opportunities and digital rights. Saudi Arabia has also ensured that all its government platforms comply with accessibility standards for all individuals, including youth, people with disabilities, and the elderly, thus ensuring true digital inclusion that leaves no one behind.
He added, “In the digital age, data protection and privacy have become an integral part of the human rights system. The Personal Data Protection Law has enshrined this principle through a comprehensive legal framework that guarantees individuals’ right to privacy and imposes clear obligations on data processors, in line with international standards for digital privacy protection.” He explained that, as a culmination of these efforts, the digital infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become among the most advanced globally, enabling individuals and communities to exercise their rights and access services fairly and transparently. The 2024 UN E-Government Development Index confirmed this progress, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia jumping 25 places to be among the world’s leading countries and achieving second place among G20 countries in the 2024 ICT Development Index. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s winning of the 2022 UN Public Service Award for its “Tawakkalna” platform confirms international recognition of the success of the Saudi experience in utilizing technology to serve humanity and preserve human dignity, making digital transformation a fundamental pillar in promoting justice, equality, and human rights in daily life.
At the conclusion of his participation, he called on those interested to benefit from best practices aimed at promoting youth rights, including the information contained in the Saudi Vision 2030 reports, as well as the national reports submitted within the framework of international human rights mechanisms, due to the rich and comprehensive information they contain about the legislative and institutional framework and applied practices in the Kingdom, and their tangible impact on promoting and protecting human rights for all groups, especially the youth.
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