Bahrain’s efforts to protect rights of children stressed

Marking the International Children’s Rights Day, which is observed on November 20 and which coincides this year with the 30th anniversary of the UN’s adoption of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Shura Council took pride in the Kingdom’s achievements in this respect in the prosperous era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The council stressed that Bahrain has set a pioneering model in this regard at the regional and international level.

The Shura Council hailed the efforts of the government, spearheaded by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, to provided all the needed capabilities to ensure good upbringing of children in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The council stressed unflinching keenness to upgrade legislation and laws supporting children, lauding the Kingdom’s progress in achieving the sustainable development goals. It pointed out the international praise for Bahrain after reviewing its report on the children’s rights before the 80th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child last January.

It also commended the role of the Shura Council’s Women and Children’s Affairs Committee in upgrading legislation and laws to keep them in tune with the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. On 20 November 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a landmark achievement that has since become the world’s most widely ratified human rights treaty.

The Convention sets strict standards for signatory governments to protect the rights of every child. Published in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Convention, a report is intended as an advocacy tool to both celebrate the achievements of the past three decades and generate dialogue on the critical work that remains – especially for children who have been left behind. Based on the latest available data, the report outlines a selected set of issues that need urgent attention.

It also advocates for all stakeholders to recommit to the Convention, stepping up their efforts to fulfil its promise in the next 30 years.