At the beginning of the meeting, the minister lauded the strength of the friendly, cooperative and historical relations between Kingdom of Bahrain and UK, which are still continuous since long decades.
The minister highlighted the joint projects between Bahrain and U.K., including the High Joint Committee between the two countries, the work plan in the area of human rights and the training programme scheduled to be presented by the Known Nottingham University, in addition to the other training projects.
Dr. Salah stressed Bahrain’s continuous need for more cooperation and coordination, as well as exchanging expertise and consultation on the mechanisms of establishing the human rights work by the acknowledged states and organizations in the area of human rights. This is to benefit from their experiences, pointing out the sustainable communication with UN Organizations to benefit as well from UN mechanisms in this area.
The minister briefed the Ambassador on a number of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s reform steps in the implementation of the recommendations of Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, and the recommendations of Human Rights Council, which reviewed the human rights record for Kingdom of Bahrain during the past months.
In responding to the recommendation of U.K’s representative in Human Rights Council regarding the recommendation of the inclusion of the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedures, which Bahrain is committed to in line with human rights international laws and conventions, the minister highlighted that Kingdom of Bahrain’s constitution ensures all rights and guarantees included in the international conventions. He also said that the Constitution takes into consideration that the international conventions ratified by Kingdom of Bahrain are in accordance with the provisions of the Kingdom’s constitution, as well as a part of the national laws of the Kingdom.
The minister also said that a number of national legislations have been amended to commensurate with the international conventions.
For her part, UK Ambassador asserted that United Kingdom supports Bahrain, and called on strengthening the constructive relation and contact with the office of the High Commissioner.