National Institution for Human Rights Holds an Event on the Sidelines of the 33rd Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva
The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) held an event on the sidelines of the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council in the United Nations Palace in Geneva entitled “The Role of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) in Enhancement and Protection of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which was attended by a number of ambassadors and representatives of Arab and foreign permanent missions in Geneva in addition to a number of representatives of civil society organizations and institutions on human rights.
The event was opened by an address by NIHR’s Vice chairperson Mr. Abdullah Al-Derazi, in which he welcomed the participants in the event aimed at introducing them to the NIHR’s role in the enhancement, development and protection of economic, social and cultural rights. Then he briefed the audience on the NIHR and its role in dealing with the human rights situation in Bahrain, in accordance with the NIHR’s articles of association and terms of reference, and reviewed its efforts in enhancing, disseminating and ensuring the exercise of human rights values and principles, under the support of His Majesty the King, may God protect him, as to ensure the provision of a dignified life for citizens.
He further dealt with the NIHR’s terms of reference, in terms of studying national legislations and verifying their compatibility with international instruments on human rights, and presented the NIHR’s opinions on relevant draft laws to the legislative power, with reference to recommendations of legislative, executive and judicial powers contained in 1st and 2nd annual reports, and their cooperation with the NIHR for improving the reality of such rights and ensuring their optimal exercise by individuals, indicating the provisions contained in such legislations, which organize the exercise of such rights, as well as recent developments in terms of institutional building and development in Bahrain, complaints and requests for assistance received by the NIHR on each right and what has been done on them, through providing supporting proposals or opinions to the competent authorities.
On his part, Member of the Council of Commissioners and Member of the Complaints, Monitoring and Follow-up Committee Dr. Hameed Hussein reviewed the NIHR’s role in the enhancement and protection of the right to health, indicating the great efforts undertaken by the Kingdom of Bahrain through establishing many public and specialized hospitals, equipping them with state-of-the-art medical technology and providing citizens and residents with all medical services free-of-charge. He added that the Kingdom is in the process of applying a national health insurance project for citizens and residents in a short time, which would ease the financial burdens and enhance the services provided between the public and private sector, which would undoubtedly have a positive influence upon the individuals, and that all such health, educational and social developments of services arise from the Bahraini esteemed Government’s concern for the comfort of citizens and residents and their access to high-standard services.
