Bahrain safeguarding rights

Manama : Bahrain’s Assistant Foreign Minister yesterday pledged to continue Kingdom’s efforts to protect and promote human rights and strengthen the rule of law to curb the growing threat of violence and terrorism in the region. 

“Kingdom enjoys a well-developed constitutional, legal, judicial and administrative system, based on its religious and civilizational values under the reformist approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,” said Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabur Al Doseri. 

This, Al Doseri said, is further enhanced by its partnership with the international community and joint action with “the executive, legislative and judicial authorities and national institutions.”

Al Doseri said this in a statement to BNA on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day which falls on the 10th of December under the slogan “ Let’s stand up for equality, justice and human dignity”. 

In this regard, citing the establishment of the National Human Rights Foundation in accordance with the Paris Principles, the Special Investigation Unit of the Attorney-General, the Ombudsman and the Commission of the Rights of Prisoners and Detainees, Al Doseri pointed out that “Bahrain has made qualitative achievements by establishing and setting up independent human rights institutions for the preservation and respect of human rights.”

“Adoption of modern laws to promote popular participation in political and public affairs, the protection of human rights and the most well-cared-for rights such as the rights of the child and the elderly, combating trafficking in persons, caring for and rehabilitating disabled persons and protecting against domestic violence,” Al Doseri said had further strengthened Bahrain’s work in this regard. 

On Bahrain’s achievement in religious freedom, Al Doseri said the most prominent of these are the launching of Royal Charity Foundation’s “Declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrain”, the King Hamad Global Centre for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence in Los Angeles and the establishment of the King Hamad Chair for Interreligious Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence at the Italian University (Sapienza). 

The Assistant Foreign Minister also expressed his pride in the Kingdom’s historic record of respect for religious freedom and its pioneering initiatives on the regional and international arenas in establishing dialogue and coexistence among religions, sects and civilizations. 

Al Doseri affirmed the Kingdom’s success since the launch of the King’s reform project and the steps taken in ensuring a fair trial, freedom of associations, freedom of the press and the media, protecting economic freedom and achieving tangible achievements in human development. 

He also praised the outstanding efforts of the Supreme Council for Women since its establishment in 2001.  “Women constitute 15% of the members of the legislative authority, 9% of the judiciary, 52% of the employees in the government sector and 32% of the private sector,” the Assistant Foreign Minister pointed out.