NIHR and Bahrain SMEs Society are Conclude the 1st National Conference on Human Rights in Entrepreneurship
The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), in cooperation with the Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Society, organized the first National Conference on Human Rights in Entrepreneurship, over two consecutive days, under the theme, “Entrepreneurship as a Human Rights Based Approach: A Theoretical Analysis of Sustainability and Development”. The conference was organized on an attendance-basis for the first time since the start of Covid-19 in 2020, thanks to the national efforts of the Bahrain Team to ensure the health and safety for all citizens and residents.
The conference aimed at shedding light on the right of entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises to innovate, create and set-up projects, and discussed those rights and their relationship to the development and support of economic decision-makers and entrepreneurs through a series of workshops.
The opening session, moderated by Dr. Fawzeya Saeed Al-Saleh, Member of the NIHR Council of Commissioners and Head of the NIHR Committee on Public Rights and Freedoms, covered four themes. The first theme dealt with Projects and Achievements of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development to promote Entrepreneurship and Human Rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which was presented by Mrs. Aisha Al-Zayed, representative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Family and Childhood Development Director. In the second theme, Dr. Jamila Al-Salman, representative of the Ministry of Health, Head of Medical Services for Internal Departments at Salmaniya Medical Complex, discussed the Precautionary Measures to combat Covid-19 and their Impact on Business Support and Continuity.
In the third theme, Dr. Hashem Suliman Hussein, representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Head of the UNIDO Office for the Promotion of Investment and Technology, discussed Mechanisms for Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Kingdom of Bahrain as a Model. This theme focused on the experience of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of entrepreneurship and human rights, emphasizing that the Kingdom of Bahrain fully believes in the importance of strengthening real partnership to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights on local, regional and international level. Thus, the Kingdom of Bahrain has close cooperation between all parties, especially the various UN agencies and bodies.
In the fourth theme, MR Mr. Ahmed Subah Al-Saloom, representative of the Bahrain SMEs Society, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bahrain SMEs Society, Member to the NIHR, addressed the Definition of the Rights and Duties of Entrepreneurs and Owners of Small and Medium Enterprises. This theme focused on the promotion of the rights of entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises and their empowerment in the development of the national economy. It also addressed the role of entrepreneurs in innovation, creativity and setting-up projects and the right of employees to have an appropriate healthy environment.
The second day of the conference included holding three workshops. The first workshop discussed the Promotion of Sustainable Development in the Field of Human Rights and Entrepreneurship, which was presented by a representative of the Gulf Centre for Governance and Sustainable Development. The second workshop discussed the Impact of Integrating Beneficiaries of Alternative Sanctions and Measures in the Labour Market on National Economy, with the participation of the Ministry of Interior.
During the closing session, a number of recommendations were made that emphasized the importance of expanding activities allowed within he Khatwa Domestic Projects Programme of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, and the importance of supporting the domestic activities of the Khatwa Programme. The conference also recommended the importance of full support for the ambitious Bahraini youth in order to work and present creative initiatives in the field of entrepreneurship, since youth are the basis for the success of any society. The conference also focused on the importance of aligning all health decisions taken with the economic aspect, especially in times of crisis, and stated the great effort made by the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of entrepreneurship and human rights in line with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s vision 2030. It also discussed Bahrain’s plan to implement the Alternative Sanctions and Measures Law that contributed to strengthening the right to work by emphasizing the importance of concerted official and private efforts with civil society organizations in the implementation of this Law. Participants in the conference were honoured.
At the end of the conference, Eng. Ali Ahmed Al-Derazi, Chairman of the NIHR, expressed his thanks and appreciation to all the participants, for their permanent cooperation with the NIHR in order to achieve its goals and mission, noting that this event falls within the NIHR’s extensive partnerships with various parties and sectors in Bahraini society to achieve its vision and mission, especially civil society organizations, due of their effective role in promoting human rights and basic freedoms, especially with regard to preserving rights in business, stating the NIHR’s keenness to continue to monitor compliance with international conventions and treaties ratified by the Kingdom of Bahrain in the area of human rights, including those concerned with economic rights.
For his part, MP Mr. Ahmed Subah Al-Saloom, Head of the Bahrain SMEs Society, praised the organization of this conference as the first cooperation event between the NIHR and the Bahrain SMEs Society, adding that the theme of the conference is in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and its impact on entrepreneurship and human rights, highlighting the right of entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises to innovate, create, set-up projects and support economic decision-makers and entrepreneurs.
