Human Rights Affairs Minister Dr. Salah bin Ali Abdulrahman will lead the kingdom’s delegation which will also include representatives from the ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Labour, Health, Justice, Education and Social Development, as well as the Public Prosecution.
Dr. Salah Ali praised the tremendous patriotic efforts exerted by the work team in charge of preparing the kingdom’s report, noting that the report was professional and highlighted Bahrain’s landmark civilisational achievements, human rights strides and what has been accomplished so far regarding its pledges, which entitles it to be a global human rights leader.
The Minister stressed that the review will offer the kingdom a valuable opportunity to highlight and inform brotherly Arab countries about the efforts of the government to continue implementing the Reform Project, launched by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa more than a decade ago, and assert that development and modernization march is going ahead steadily under the Comprehensive National Programme based on the exemplary national consensus enjoyed by the Royal democratic reform project.
Dr. Salah explained that ACHR will review the report because Bahrain is a state party to the Arab Charter of Human Rights, adopted during the 16th Summit held in Tunis on May 23rd, 2004.
He affirmed the Kingdom’s gratitude to Arab states for their honourable supportive stances towards it in Arab and Western gatherings, which reflected Arab countries’ solidarity and unity in order to fend off allegations and distortion campaigns against the kingdom and highlight the tangible progress made in all fields thanks the bold steps taken by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
He asserted that the review by the ACHR is the first mechanism adopted by the Arab League to follow up on the human rights march in the states parties to the Arab Charter of Human Rights, adding that ACHR consists of members who work independently from their countries and are elected on the basis of their expertise.
He pointed out that the kingdom’s acceptance to have its human rights record tabled at the ACHR stems from its strong desire to re-affirm its commitment to transparency and support for freedom of opinion and expression and respect of human rights, guaranteed by the National Action Charter, the Constitution and the recent landmark constitutional amendments.
He underlined that the package of bold initiatives launched by HM the King in the field of human rights reflects the kingdom’s continuous leadership in human rights practices, citing, in this regard, the Royal Order to establish the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) consisting of eminent international judges, which, he said, proves the country’s desire to take advantage of international expertise in order to consolidate national unity.
He added that Bahrain is resolved to promote consensus as a basic requirement for every initiative, project or achievement, stressing that the secret of the success of the on-going democratic reform march is that it is based on national consensus and support of the Bahraini people for the strategic policies and national reform programmes of the wise leadership.