NIHR Participates in the Universal Periodic Review of Bahrain in Geneva
A delegation of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) participated in the 1st meeting of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of the Kingdom of Bahrain at its 27th session in Geneva. The NIHR’s delegation was under the chairpersonship of Mr. Saeed bin Mohamed Al-Faihani, Chairperson of the NIHR, who stated that the NIHR presented its parallel report to the Periodic Review mechanism, which was embedded in the report entitled “Summary of Information Provided by Stakeholders on Bahrain” that was contained in the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. He added that, since the accession of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, may God protect him, the Kingdom of Bahrain has witnessed significant shifts towards further strengthening of democracy and human rights. The NIHR appreciates the positive efforts made by the Kingdom of Bahrain in dealing with the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review, especially in the area of criminal justice, Child Law and combatting trafficking in persons, and commends the Government’s endeavors in providing the appropriate climate for freedom of thought, opinion, expression and belief. The meeting was opened by Ambassador Mr. Joaquin Martelli, Head of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of the Kingdom of Bahrain, who stated that 14 countries will be reviewed during the 1st meeting of the 3rd round that will last for 2 weeks, and wished success to all the countries, noting that around 90 countries have submitted interventions during the review that included a number of recommendations.
Most of the countries praised the establishment of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) as well as the amendments to Law No. (26) of 2014 on the Establishment of the NIHR, under the Decree – Law No. (20) of 2016, which made the NIHR compatible with the Paris Principles through the terms of reference granted to it to perform its duties and powers in order to enhance and promote human rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The panel also stressed the importance of NIHR’s financial and administrative independence and providing it with sufficient financial resources as well as the importance of the powers given to it to perform its duties and terms of reference in order to enhance and promote human rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
