Bahrain Crown Prince, Prime Minister establishes National Human Rights Committee

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com    

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, yesterday issued Edict 35/2023 establishing and forming the National Human Rights Committee (hereafter referred to as ‘Committee’), based on the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and following the approval of the Cabinet.

Chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Committee shall name representatives of the entities based on nomination.

Committee members shall serve for a renewable three-year term. The committee is responsible for coordination with government organisations in all matters related to human rights according to the competence of each organisation, particularly establishing a coordination mechanism to ensure the best policies for dealing with human rights issues, and following up the implementation of the national plan for human rights at the government level and submitting an annual report to the Cabinet.

The Committee shall review and approve all national reports prepared by the sub-national committees regarding the Kingdom of Bahrain’s obligations before the bodies established under international human rights treaties of the United Nations system.

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, yesterday issued Edict 35/2023 establishing and forming the National Human Rights Committee (hereafter referred to as ‘Committee’), based on the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and following the approval of the Cabinet:

The Committee shall be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and shall consist of the following members:

1. Undersecretary for Planning, Family Reconciliation and Alimony at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments;

2. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs;

3. Coordinator at the Prime Minister’s Office;

4. Secretary-General of the Ombudsman;

5. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development;

6. Deputy CEO of Enforcement and Protection at the Labour Market Regulatory Authority;

7. Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Interior;

8. Vice President of the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commision;

9. Chief Executive Officer of the National Communication Centre;

10. Head of the Special Investigation Unit of the Public Prosecution;

11. Head of the Human Rights Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

12. Advisor for International Relations and Follow-up at the Supreme Council for Women;

13. Director of the Labour Relations Department at the Ministry of Labour.

The committee shall name representatives of the entities based on nomination.

Three-year term

The committee members shall serve for a renewable three-year term. If any membership becomes vacant for any reason, a representative of the same entity shall replace them until the end of their term.

The committee is responsible for coordination with government organisations in all matters related to human rights according to the competence of each organisation, particularly:

1. Establishing a coordination mechanism to ensure the best policies for dealing with human rights issues.

2. Following up the implementation of the national plan for human rights at the government level and submitting an annual report to the Cabinet

3. Preparing responses to statements and inquiries issued by organisations and associations inside and outside the Kingdom, related to human rights.

4. Preparing reports that the Kingdom of Bahrain is committed to present in the implementation of the agreements to which the Kingdom has joined in the human rights field.

5. Considering the requests of international organisations working in the human rights field that wish to send a representative to Bahrain.

6. Following up on the implementation of human rights recommendations and submitting periodic reports to the Cabinet.

7. Submitting recommendations related to human rights issues to the Cabinet.

8. Preparing studies on local laws in line with the agreements to which the Kingdom has acceded in the human rights field.

9. Any other issues referred to it by the Chairman of the Committee.

Review and approve

The Committee shall review and approve all national reports prepared by the sub-national committees regarding the Kingdom of Bahrain’s obligations before the bodies established under international human rights treaties of the United Nations system.

The Committee shall meet at the invitation of its Chairman at least once per month at the location and time determined by the Chairman, or more frequently if necessary. The Chairman must be present for the meeting to be valid, and it must be attended by the majority of the members.

The Committee shall set regulations for its work system. If a member is absent from any meeting, the concerned authority may designate another person to represent him, providing that person has the same employment status.

The Committee shall issue its decisions according to the majority of votes of the present members, and in the event of equality, the side of the chairperson is cast. The Chairman of the Committee has the right to invite whomever he deems appropriate with expertise and specialisation and from organisations or bodies from inside or outside the Kingdom to attend its meetings with the aim of seeking guidance from their opinions, without having the right to vote.

Rapporteur

The Committee shall have a rapporteur chosen by the chairman, who will be responsible for preparing its meetings and its agendas, as well as for writing the minutes of the meetings. The relevant ministries, institutions and agencies in the Kingdom shall provide the Committee with the data and information it requests, and deems necessary for its work.