Bahrain’s human rights protection highlighted

The Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabur Al Doseri, affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s distinction in the availability of legislative and judicial mechanisms developed and integrated to protect and promote Human Rights and the public and personal freedoms, in accordance with international human rights standards under the law and social justice since the start of the march towards reform of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
During a press conference at the General Court of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Assistant Foreign Minister highlighted the human rights and legislative achievements of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the occasion of the submission of its third National Report to the UN Human Rights Council under the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights mechanism on February 2, 2017, after the discussion and approval of the Supreme Coordination Committee on Human rights, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Al Doseri explained that the submission of the third National Human Rights Report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva at the right timing and in conjunction with the sixteenth anniversary of the adoption of the National Action Charter is an indication of the determination of the Kingdom to continue its efforts in the promotion and respect of human rights in legislation and policy, firmly institutionalized in modern Bahrain under the provisions of the Constitution, national legislation and the principles of Islam, as well as the fulfillment of voluntary commitments in the context of interaction and cooperation with international human rights organizations through the implementation of the recommendations of the Human Rights Council, the Technical cooperation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the human rights bodies and committees under the United Nations. 
He reviewed the public policy of the Kingdom in the respect for Human Rights, and monitoring of the implementation of the government’s program for the years (2015-2018) "Towards justice, security and well-being of society", and the efforts of development and construction of sustainable economic and social development, as well as the keenness on promoting individual rights, freedom of opinion and expression, and working within the framework of constitutional and legal legitimacy.
The Assistant Foreign Minister also referred to the ensuring of political and civil rights under the constitutional monarchy and the separation between the legislative, executive and judicial authorities and their cooperation in accordance with the Constitution, the freedom of the configuration of civil society institutions, and to ensure public rights and personal freedoms, including press and media freedom, religious freedom and promoting economic freedom and transparency, and approve modern laws to protect human rights and groups in need of care, for example, children’ rights, the rights of the elderly, the fight against human trafficking, the care and rehabilitation and operation of the disabled, the provisions of the family, protection from domestic violence, and women's empowerment.
He praised the judiciary and human rights system which is guaranteed to protect human rights, highlighting the independence and integrity of the judiciary, the practice of the National Foundation for Human Rights, the Special Unit at the Public Prosecution, the Ombudsman of the Ministry of Interior, and the Office of the rights of prisoners and detainees for their efforts in protecting human rights and dignity. 
The Assistant Foreign Minister praised the remarkable achievements of the Supreme Council for Women, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, and the Bahrain Institute for Political Development in raising political and legal awareness and instilling the culture of human rights through education and media in order to strengthen the cohesion of the Bahraini society. 
Al Doseri also turned to the national policies and strategies in the field of human rights protection, and the legislative developments in line with the Kingdom's accession to a number of agreements and international conventions on the protection of human rights, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the Arab Charter for human rights etc..
He stressed that respect for human rights is fundamental to the process of political reform, as well as comprehensive and sustainable development in various dimensions during the prosperous reign of His Majesty the King, and the consolidation of coexistence, tolerance, acceptance of others and equality as solid Bahraini society values, and its permanent distinctiveness as a homeland for all, fused with different cultures and civilizations, in addition to fair and equal rights to all its citizens in correspondence with the law.

Source: BNA