National Institution for Human Rights receives a delegation from the Congress of the United States of America
The National Institution for Human Rights received at the headquarters of institution in the Seef District a delegation from the United States of America Congress currently visiting the country to learn about the achievements of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of human rights,
At the onset of the meeting, His Excellency Acting Secretary General Counselor-at-Law Mr. Yasser Shaheen welcomed the American delegation’s visit, reinforces the relations of cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America. His Excellency Mr. Shaheen briefed the delegation of the human rights situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as the role of the National Institution in dealing with it in accordance with the terms of reference entrusted to it through the promotion and protection of human rights under the reformist covenant of His Majesty King of Bahrain, who has reinforced the consolidation of the values and principles of human rights and the maintenance of freedom through His Majesty’s support for human rights organizations including the National Institution for Human Rights. This process is accompanied with the issuance of national legislation and ratification of UN conventions related to the maintenance and protection of human rights.
His Excellency Acting Secretary General Counselor-at-Law Mr. Yasser Shaheen presented a summary of the National Institution’s work strategy, goals, and terms of reference of its establishment in accordance with the Paris principles of law. His Excellency also presented the contents of the first and second annual reports by National Institution in 2013 and 2014, in addition to a brief of the training programs that it has delivered, which include the Junior Lawyers Training Program, Future Judges Program, in cooperation with Supreme Council of Magistracy, and Human Rights Legal Clinic Program with the University of Bahrain.
Mr. Fahad Abdullah Al-Mualla, Director of Information and Communication Technology at the NIHR's Secretariat General, spoke about Institution’s role in the promotion and protection of human rights through the workshops and informative seminars held on a regular basis, in addition to the joint workshops. He also discussed the launch of Institution’s new website, with its added feature of complaint-filing either through an online form or smart phone applications to provide the best service, as this step emanates from Institution’s keenness, under the leadership of His Excellency the NIHR's Chairperson Dr. Abdulaziz Abul, on developing and modernizing the methods of communication with the citizens and residents in Kingdom of Bahrain.
The U.S. Congress’s delegation commended the role assumed by the National Institution in the field of promoting and protecting human rights, and expressed its willingness to cooperate and communicate with the National Institution with regards to all aspects of human right issues, stressing their complete readiness to transfer their expertise in the field of training and raising awareness of the culture of human rights.
The U.S. Congress delegation’s visit included a tour in of the headquarters of National Institution, where they were briefed on the training center and library, as well as the complaint-receiving center. Ms. Shaikha Al Alaiwi, a legal researcher at the Department of Legal Affairs, attended the meeting, in addition to a number of Foreign Ministry staff.
