United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has called for encouraging efforts to improve human rights in the six Gulf nations. Delivering a keynote speech at the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday, she expressed ongoing concerns in areas such as women’s rights and freedom of expression, association and assembly. Ms. Pillay said, discriminatory barriers continue to hamper women’s right to shape their own lives and choices, and fully participate in public life. She said, these barriers must be removed. She also stressed the importance of a vibrant press and committed civil society able to operate freely and alert the State to issues and problems as they arise.