Bahrain's outstanding human rights record praised

Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabur Al Doseri, praised Bahrain's outstanding record in the field of protecting and promoting human rights and its distinguished position at the regional and international levels. It enjoys a well-developed constitutional, legal, judicial and administrative system, based on its religious and civilizational values under the reformist approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. 

In a statement on the occasion of Human Rights Day, which falls on the 10th of December under the slogan " Let's stand up for equality, justice and human dignity", Al Doseri affirmed the Kingdom's success since the launch of the King's reform project in the inauguration of the National Action Charter in 2001 and the implementation of the constitutional amendments to provide a model to be followed in the consolidation of the rights of citizenship and the values of tolerance and moderation, and the protection of public and personal freedoms within the framework of the equality of all citizens in the rights, duties and human dignity without distinction as to race, origin, language, religion or creed. 

In this regard, Al Doseri pointed out to taking unprecedented steps in the field of political and democratic reform within the framework of consolidating the rule of law and institutions, exercising the legislative power of its Council of Representatives and the Shura Council for its supervisory and legislative functions and enhancing the independence and impartiality of the judiciary in ensuring fair trial, freedom of associations, freedom of the press and the media, protecting economic freedom and achieving tangible achievements in human development. 

He added that the Kingdom of Bahrain made qualitative achievements by establishing and setting up independent human rights institutions for the preservation and respect of human rights, in particular the National Human Rights Foundation in accordance with the Paris Principles, the Special Investigation Unit of the Attorney-General, the Ombudsman and the Commission of the Rights of Prisoners and Detainees, As well as the adoption of modern laws to promote popular participation in political and public affairs, the protection of human rights and the most well-cared for rights such as the rights of the child and the elderly, combating trafficking in persons, caring for and rehabilitating disabled persons and protecting against domestic violence. 

He praised the outstanding efforts of the Supreme Council for Women since its establishment in 2001 under the chairmanship of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of the King, in the advancement of women and their full rights within the framework of equality, equality of opportunity and social justice in accordance with the Constitution and without violating the provisions of Islamic law. Women constitute 15% of the members of the legislative authority, 9% of the judiciary, 52% of the employees in the government sector and 32% of the private sector, and ranked first in the world in terms of the fastest rate of participation in economic activity according to the International Labor Organization (19) for the year 2017 in an advanced step to legalize personal status and protect the rights of women and the Bahraini family. 

He expressed his pride in the Bahraini women's participation in the highest executive, administrative, legislative and judicial posts, including the appointment of an Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the President of the National Human Rights Foundation, the membership of the United Nations Women's Committee and the Executive Council of the United Nations Women's Fund. The culmination of these efforts is the merit of Her Royal Highness the President of the Supreme Council for Women , and the selection of Manama as the Capital of Arab Women for 2017 and the representative office of the United Nations Women's Authority, as well as the announcement of Her Highness's Global Award for the Empowerment of Women. 

The Assistant Foreign Minister expressed his pride in the Kingdom's historic record of respect for religious freedom and its pioneering initiatives on the regional and international arenas in establishing dialogue and coexistence among religions, sects and civilizations. The most prominent of these are the launching of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty's Representative for Charity and Youth Affairs, chaired the Royal Charity Foundation's "Declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrain" as a global document to promote religious freedom and launch the King Hamad Global Centre for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence in Los Angeles, after the establishment of the King Hamad Chair for Interreligious Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence at the Italian University (Sapienza). 

Al Dosari praised the adoption by the United Nations of the pioneering Bahraini experience in the field of labor market reform, particularly the Flexible Work Permit as one of the best international practices, and ranked it first in the world among the attractive destinations for expatriate workers in the 2017 annual Expat Insider Index, and is distinguished in indicators of family life, job satisfaction, occupational safety and security at work. 

The Assistant Foreign Minister said that these national achievements have received wide international acclaim when the Kingdom of Bahrain submitted or debated its periodic reports to the United Nations this year, starting with the first national report on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the second and third reports to the Committee against Torture under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the third periodic report of the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights, the fourth to sixth periodic report of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, And the second on protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. 

Al Dosari affirmed the appreciation of the international community for the efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain to protect and promote human rights and to fulfill its voluntary pledges to cooperate with international bodies and committees established under international human rights instruments, pointing out that 75 out of 83 countries commended the third national report of the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights, and the achievements in the field of respect for human rights and political, civil, economic, cultural and social freedoms, despite the dangers of external interference in their internal affairs and the rise of acts of terrorism, intellectual extremism and violence that threaten the right to life and deters programs and policies to achieve sustainable development, security and prosperity for all. 

The Assistant Foreign Minister affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain is pursuing its reform, democratic and human rights through cooperation between the executive, legislative and judicial authorities and national institutions, and their joint commitment to promote and protect human rights and strengthen the rule of law in the face of acts of violence and terrorism, as well as partnership with the international community to promote regional and international peace and security, and to deepen coexistence and dialogue among the followers of different religions, civilizations and cultures, in order to serve the agenda of sustainable development.