CRC/C/SAU/CO/2 page 5 including religious police (known as mutawwa) and other religious clerics, personnel working in institutions and places of detention for children, as well as teachers, health personnel and social workers); (b) Seek innovative ways and methods to disseminate the Convention, including through a tailored communication strategy which links the Convention with existing positive values and traditions in Saudi society, and raise awareness of the rights of the child, including vulnerable children, among children and their parents and civil society; (c) Develop and adopt a communication strategy in order to involve the media in the dissemination of the principles and provisions of the Convention; and (d) Seek technical assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UNICEF, among others, in this regard. Cooperation with civil society 21. While acknowledging the growing number of civil society associations for charitable purposes, the Committee is concerned about the limited number of non-governmental organizations working for human rights-based development as well as the State party’s inadequate dialogue and cooperation with civil society, in particular with non-governmental organizations working for the implementation of the Convention. 22. The Committee encourages the State party to facilitate a framework for the establishment of non-governmental organizations so that these organizations can support the State party in the promotion and implementation of the rights of the child. It recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to promote interactive dialogue with civil society and to involve non-governmental organizations, particularly those dealing with child rights issues, in all stages of the implementation of the Convention. International cooperation 23. The Committee notes with satisfaction the State party’s international cooperation and the support provided by Saudi civil society associations to children’s welfare activities in some Muslim countries. It notes that the Saudi authorities have increased their vigilance and monitoring over this kind of cooperation in the light of reports that few charitable associations have supported religious schools (known as madrassas) abroad, which have spread hatred, extremism and terrorism. 24. The Committee recommends that the State party continue its activities in the area of international cooperation and increase its official development assistance to 0.7 per cent of its GDP, as recommended by the United Nations, with special consideration of child rights focus in programmes and projects. The Committee encourages the State party to further facilitate Saudi civil society associations to work for children’s rights and welfare abroad in the spirit of the Convention. It recommends that the State party continue to enhance its vigilance and monitoring in order to avoid supporting religious education abroad aiming to spread hatred, extremism and terrorism among children.

Select target paragraph3