NGOs' role in promoting human rights lauded

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the second consultative meeting with a number of representatives of human rights civil society organizations. The meeting was chaired by Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabur Al Doseri.

The Assistant Foreign Minister affirmed the role of civil society in the development and promotion of human rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The consultative meeting comes within the framework of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ keenness to achieve partnership with civil society organizations for human rights in implementation of the directives of the leadership for the promotion and protection of human rights as well as the achievements and progress of rights reached by the country.

He said that respect for human rights has a prominent place within the framework of the reform approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and his guarantee of a modern system of effective legislative and executive procedures in line with the National Action Charter, the constitution and international human rights covenants.

Al Doseri also stressed the keenness and interest of the ministry to increase cooperation and coordination with the relevant ministries and government bodies as well as institutions and associations to discuss human rights issues and consolidate the achievements made in line with the reform and democratic process, in addition to complying with the Kingdom's voluntary commitments to international human rights covenants and conventions.

The meeting discussed a number of issues, including important achievements and developments in the promotion of human rights legislation, most important of which is the promulgation of the unified family law, the alternative penal law and other relevant draft laws.

The meeting also discussed national reports submitted to the United Nations on the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Bahrain, which was discussed in May this year, where the Kingdom of Bahrain received international recognition and praise for its record, development and excellence.

It also discussed the report of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the draft report on the rights of the child and persons with disabilities.

Discussions also included means of developing cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and civil society associations as well as a number of ideas and proposals that contribute to the development of this partnership at the national and international levels.

The most important of these proposals is the issuance of a new law regulating the work of civil society associations, the allocations of a headquarters to provide offices and meets the needs of civil society associations as well as the development and codification of the system of financial support for associations to further develop national human rights work.

The Assistant Foreign Minister affirmed that Bahrain is proceeding steadily with its democratic, human rights and development achievements in the framework of cooperation between the executive and legislative branches, strengthening the powers of independent human rights institutions, and respecting the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.

Source:BNA