With National Dialogue’s 5th session attracted 266 delegates, the vital issues related to human rights, social, political and economic questions were discussed in detail.
The four main themes have now entered their second round of discussions, so that all visions and suggestions tabled by participants have had an initial review. Aspects of women and children’s rights received full consensus, while delegates also supported the strengthening of corporate social responsibility and increased funding for NGOs.
A unanimous decision to bolster women’s rights will ensure their greater protection from violence, equal rights in the workplace and greater political and economic empowerment, including reviewing women’s salary levels in the private sector. In particular, Bahrain will ensure the comprehensive implementation of the UN Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women while respecting the country’s religious tradition. People with special needs will be granted better access to education and specialised bodies through the adoption of a National Strategy on the rights of people with special needs in September 2011. Delegates further agreed to ensure the comprehensive implementation of children’s rights legislation. They also approved the proposal that children born to Bahraini women married to a foreign national be granted Bahraini nationality.
Delegates also reached on a consensus providing increased government funding to NGOs, notably through the adoption of a National Strategy for NGOs. Organisations will be able to establish headquarters with the assistance of the Ministry for Human Rights and Social Development, while specific rules will be established in relation to the distribution of public funds. In particular, any suspension of government funding will only be authorised through a court order. Delegates noted that civil society organisations should not combine political and human rights activities. Participants emphasised the importance of improving coordination and cooperation between the private sector and civil society, in particular through the establishment of corporate social responsibility mechanisms. They further agreed on enhancing legislation governing private sector unions.
With regard to politics, the forum achieved consensus on the comprehensive implementation of legislation ensuring non-sectarianism in all civil society and political organisations. A lively debate on the limits of religious speech in politics divided opinions and visions of the role of religion in political life. Delegates agreed on ensuring greater transparency in the financial affairs of political organisations through financial disclosure rules and further rules on the structure, monitoring and organisation of their funding. They also approved a suggestion to harmonise the age limit for participation in political societies with the legal voting age. No agreement was reached on transforming political societies into political parties
Discussions on economic issues continued on improving Bahrain’s competitiveness in particular through the implementation of articles in the ‘Gulf agreement’, which would ensure fair and equal treatment for Bahrain. A decision was taken to upgrade existing legislation governing privatisation rules in support of Bahrain’s economic interests. All delegates agreed to bolster commercial arbitration through specialised courts and judges involved in the resolution of commercial, banking and financial disputes.