Foreign Minister expresses pride in Bahrain's honourable human rights record
Manama, Mar. 15 (BNA): Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Foreign Affairs Minister, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, has affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain boasts a pioneering model for respecting human rights and consolidating individuals’ political, civil, economic, social and cultural freedoms, under His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s comprehensive development process, and the policies of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
In a statement marking the Arab Human Rights Day and the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Arab Charter on Human Rights, Dr. Al Zayani expressed pride in the kingdom’s honourable human rights record, stemming from its deep-rooted cultural and civilisational values, HM the King’s pioneering widely recognised reform initiatives since the overwhelming consensus on the endorsement of the National Action Charter, and the establishment of the state of law, justice and equality without discrimination based on gender, race, language, religion or belief.
The Minister indicated that the Kingdom enjoys integrated modern legislative and judicial systems and measures to enhance respect for public rights and freedoms as well as preserve human dignity, within the framework of the ongoing constructive legislature-executive cooperation, partnership with the National Institution for Human Rights, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission and the Special Investigation Unit at the Public Prosecution, in addition to the support of the civilian society, and the free and enlightened mass media, in accordance with the Constitution and international charters, including human rights instruments, to which the Kingdom is a party.
Dr. Al Zayani reviewed the kingdom’s success story regarding the exercise of its citizens, women and men, of their full political rights through free and fair parliamentary and municipal elections, with a high popular participation rate of more than 73% in the sixth session in 2022.
He also highlighted Bahrain’s success in enhancing the legislative and oversight powers of the Shura and Representatives councils, citing the legislative guarantees to protect the right to life, as well as ensure the physical and psychological integrity of individuals.
He also shed light on the kingdom’s efforts to develop its criminal justice system, as 6,370 inmates have benefitted from the Alternative Sentencing Law since its inception in May 2018. He also cited the success of the Open Prisons Programme in obtaining an international accreditation certificate from the American Correctional Association (ACA), becoming the first entity outside the US to receive such a certification.
The Foreign Affairs Minister added that celebrating Arab Human Rights Day 2024 under the theme of “Protecting the Family and Strengthening its Bonds” represents an important occasion to shed light on the Kingdom’s modern and pioneering laws, plans and strategies at the regional level in safeguarding the rights of the family, women, children, youth, people with disabilities and the elderly. He also highlighted Bahrain’s success in ensuring protection from domestic violence, as well as achieving restorative justice for children and protecting them from ill-treatment, in addition to ensuring their social security and justice by launching an independent building for family courts and a specialised prosecution office for the family and children.
He also underlined the Kingdom’s constant commitment to protecting religious and family values, as well as upholding the value of the family, being the natural and basic entity of society, according the Constitution and Article (33) of the Arab Charter on Human Rights, in addition to preserving social rights and human dignity, contributing to its ranking second Arab country with very high human development, according to the United Nations Development Programme report, and success in retaining Tier-1 status in the US Department of State's 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TiP) Report for the sixth straight year.
Dr. Al Zayani expressed pride in HM the King’s wise diplomatic and humanitarian approach, based on consolidating the rights of solidarity, foremost of which is supporting the rights of the Palestinian people to security, decent life, freedom and self-determination, as reflected in the royal call on the international community to assume its responsibilities by halting the war in the Gaza Strip, protecting civilians, refusing the forcible displacement of the Palestinians from their lands, meeting their humanitarian needs, and reviving the just and comprehensive peace process in the region by establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the basis of the two-state solution, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant international legitimacy resolutions.
He praised HM the King’s initiatives to promote dialogue, human fraternity, and living in peace among the followers of religions, cultures, and civilisations, by disseminating the principles of the “Kingdom of Bahrain’s Declaration” on religious tolerance. In this regard, he also highlighted the initiatives launched by the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, offering awards, organising international forums, and deepening international partnerships in ending wars and crises through peaceful means.
He also stressed Bahrain’s efforts to support sustainable development goals and encourage international humanitarian action, in addition to HM King Hamad’s backing of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace, based on the belief in the close connection between human rights and maintaining global peace and security.
Dr. Al Zayani stressed the kingdom’s support for the Arab League’s human rights mechanisms, noting that Bahrain, which was among the first countries to ratify the Arab Charter on Human Rights in 2006, presented its second regular national report to the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights in December 2023.
He also highlighted Bahrain’s pioneering Arab and international human rights initiatives, foremost of which was HM the King’s call to establish an Arab Court for Human Rights.
The Foreign Affairs Minister affirmed the kingdom’s steadfast resolve to continue enhancing its achievements in the human rights and sustainable development fields, including the implementation of the National Human Rights Plan (2022-2026), whose projects and programmes have already been 40% completed.
He also stressed that Bahrain would continue consolidating its leading role and status, in line with HM the King’s aspirations of making it a land that protects rights and freedoms, an oasis of security and peaceful coexistence, as well as a beacon of tolerance and civilisational openness.
