Bahrain : Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said that Bahrain, in line with the reformist approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the directives of the Government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, is committed to respecting human rights and public freedoms, consolidating the rule of law and justice, supporting the democratic process and promoting comprehensive and sustainable development.Dr Al Zayani, Chairman of the he Higher Coordination Committee for Human Rights, made the statement while presenting Bahrain’s fourth report for discussion within the Universal Periodic Review mechanism before the Human Rights Council in Geneva.He stressed Bahrain’s determination to continue its achievements at a steady and ambitious pace towards the promotion, protection, and respect of human rights, in a safe and prosperous environment, after fulfilling all the recommendations it accepted in the third periodic report.He underlined Bahrain’s efforts to bolster its position as a longstanding model of tolerance and coexistence among different religions, sects and ethnicities for hundreds of years, as one of the inherent and enduring human rights and freedoms.”The historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Kingdom of Bahrain, and his participation with His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Shaikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Chairman of the Council of Muslim Elders in the “Bahrain Dialogue Forum: The East and West for Human Coexistence”, was a clear demonstration of my country’s determination to continue its efforts to uphold the values of peace and understanding among people of all religions and beliefs, to consolidate the principles of human fraternity and to establish the values of doing good and peace”, he said.He added that one of the fruits of this high-level fraternal meeting is the announcement of the establishment of the King Hamad International Prize for Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence, which reflects His Majesty’s keenness to promote human fraternity and dialogue among peoples and cultures in peace.He stressed HM the King’s unwavering support for the harnessing of virtue and bringing people together without discrimination in the interest of nations and peoples, reflecting the Kingdom of Bahrain’s keenness to highlight the principles of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among all through innovative initiatives, at a time when the world is facing difficult challenges.He also noted that Bahrain is distinctive in this authentic approach, as pointed out by His Holiness Pope Francis in his speech during the reception held by His Majesty, during which he said: “This country’s greatest riches shine forth in its ethnic and cultural diversity, and in the peaceful co-existence and the traditional hospitality of its people. Diversity that is not bland, but inclusive, is the wealth of every truly developed country”.In the presence and participation of representatives of ministries and government bodies concerned with human rights, Dr. Al Zayani reviewed the progress made in protecting human rights and the citizens’ exercise of their constitutional right to democratic participation.He noted that the parliamentary and municipal elections in their sixth session this month were conducted with complete integrity and transparency, amid full judicial supervision, and the oversight of NGOs and the media.He added that Bahrain has been able to provide a global model in addressing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its repercussions, through a balance between maintaining public health and safety, and the continuation of life without taking exceptional measures such as the ban on partial or total movement.he added that Bahrain developed an “open budget that does not take into account costs”, conducting tests and vaccinations free of charge for all citizens and residents alike, with testing amounting to 600% of the population, with 82% receiving the second dose of the vaccine and 67% receiving the booster dose, as well as the implementation of five financial and economic packages since March 2020 worth approximately $12 billion dollars, the equivalent of one-third of Gross Domestic Product.These included forty initiatives to support individuals, the private sector and the sectors most affected by the pandemic, in addition to ensuring the sustainability of the educational process according to flexible procedures that have maintained the safety of students and educational staff.The minister said that Bahrain has strengthened its efforts in promoting criminal justice and law enforcement under modern and advanced legislation and pioneering and unprecedented mechanisms in the Middle East region.He cited mainly the application of the Law on Alternative Sanctions and Measures of 2017 and the number of beneficiaries has surpassed 4400 since it came into effect, noting the efforts of the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission and its primary role in supervising prisons and places of detention, through 22 inspection visits since August 2014, the National Institution for Human Rights’ efforts to investigate alleged human rights violations, receive complaints, and follow up on them, and exercise its functions in full independence in accordance with the Paris Principles.He noted that the Ombudsman initiated procedures for examining and investigating any complaints or allegations of human rights violations by Ministry of Interior personnel, and taking legal action on them. The Ombudsman has received 7,880 complaints and requests for assistance since its launch in July 2013.He added that Bahrain has maintained its Tier 1 ranking for the fifth consecutive year in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons report in 2022, a unique achievement of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, through the application of the Law on Combating Trafficking in Persons of 2008.He noted that the Kingdom affirmed its excellence in protecting the rights of expatriate workers, by establishing a comprehensive and specialized center to support and protect expatriate workers, that received 56,328 cases since its launch in 2016 to benefit from its guidance, legal, medical, accommodation and preventative services, in addition to correcting the irregular conditions of employers and foreign workers, and applying the optional insurance system for domestic workers.He underlined that Bahrain has paid special attention to the rights of the most vulnerable groups, consolidating its pioneering achievements in supporting the advancement of women in accordance with the National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women (2013-2022) under the follow-up of the Supreme Council for Women.Bahrain, he said, is in the process of approving a new plan by the end of this year, to enhance family and social stability and the quality of life, whilst integrating women’s needs into comprehensive development programmes within the framework of equality, equal opportunities and gender balance, drawing on lessons learned from the implementation of the current plan.He added the Kingdom of Bahrain is proud of the contribution of Bahraini women and their pivotal role in various walks of life, through their assumption this year of four ministerial portfolios, their chairmanship of the Council of Representatives and the legislative authority since 2018, whilst representing 19% of the seats of the Shura and Representative Councils, 12% of judges, and their increased contribution to represent 56% of workers in the government sector, 35% in the private sector, 70% of students of higher education, 49% of academic positions.Bahrain has also ranked first globally in bridging the gender gap in enrolment in secondary and higher education according to the 2021 Davos Report, and through their presence in global forums by representing 33% of diplomats, and their membership in many UN committees and organizations.In the field of rights of the child, the adoption of the Law on Restorative Justice for Children and their Protection from Ill-Treatment of 2021 represented a qualitative leap in the care of children and their protection from exploitation or abuse, whether psychologically, physically, sexually or economically, through which a judicial committee and specialized courts for children were formed to ensure their privacy.He noted that Bahrain Bahrain affirmed its keenness to take into account the environmental dimensions related to sustainable development, through its pledge before the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, and its support for the climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.Bahrain is continuing its policy and projects in accordance with the new Law on the Environment of 2022, and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 towards a healthy, safe and sustainable environment. He added that Bahrain also seeks to improve policies related to digital rights and freedoms on the Internet.He also expressed Bahrain’s pride in the preparation of the first National Human Rights Plan (2022-2026), with its adoption by the Government last April, and the follow-up of its implementation in partnership between national institutions, with the plan including 17 main goals, 34 sub-objectives and 102 projects, distributed over four themes that will promote Civil and Political Rights, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Rights of the Most Vulnerable Groups, and Solidarity Rights to achieve the desired goals.He cited mainly legislative and institutional development, and capacity-building, with the plan including indicators to measure performance and the impact of implementation on the human rights reality in the country and reaffirmed in this regard that the preparation of the plan took into account the recommendations issued by the Universal Periodic Review.He added that Bahrain is confidently proceeding according to ambitious and integrated policies, plans and programmes towards the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, adopting modern policies, and transparent and responsible practices, that guarantee justice, tolerance, and economic and social prosperity, that enhance the Kingdom’s active role in consolidating security, peace and sustainable development for the good and benefit of all citizens and residents in our country.He affirmed that Bahraini delegation is keen on conducting an effective and constructive dialogue that will allow us to clarify the important achievements of the Kingdom in the framework of the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, to consolidate a State of justice, law, equality and dignity, and to listen to your observations and recommendations.He thanked countries which submitted questions and observations, which we have no doubt will be an important incentive to consolidate the values and principles of respect for human rights in the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
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