Salah Ali Abdul Rahman Bahrain’s Keenness on Cooperation with all UN Bodies

Minister of Human Rights Affairs, Dr. Salah Ali Abdul Rahman delivered a speech within the Conference’s Action Programme “ Arab Governance Week,” under the theme "Social Accountability in a Changing Region – Active Parties and Mechanisms,” held in Cairo in the period 26-29 November 2012. Dr. Salah reviewed Bahrain’s experience in this regard, highlighting that the Kingdom was the first state subject to that review during the first session of the programme in 2008, and was also subject to the second review during the month of May 2012, where it positively dealt with the Human Rights Council. Dr. Salah pointed out that Kingdom of Bahrain has accepted approximately 90% of the recommendations out of 176, which covered a lot of issues, as the rights of women and children, rights of people with special needs, rights of workers, the civil accountability, criminal justice and national reconciliation, as well as other issues. Meanwhile, Dr. Salah stressed the importance of the programme Universal Periodic Review (UPR) governing all 193 member states, without exception, in the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, reinforcing Bahrain's keenness to cooperate with all UN bodies. The Minister, Dr. Salah asserted that the Human Rights Council should inform the states that the recommendations issued from them must be concerned with rights, and to be specific, clear and enforceable, so that the relevant state can positively deal with it. He highlighted that some of the recommendations issued by some countries during the review programme lacked the exact wording, and some of them had a political nature, not human rights, or they addressed the sovereignty of the state. On the other hand, the minister said that in spite of the multiplicity of the recommendations, they include repeated issues, as the recommendations for Bahrain which reached 176, where in fact they were only related to nineteen issues. He stressed the importance that the UN Human Rights Council resolves such matter, through keeping countries aware of that, in order to achieve the goal of the UPR programme, and not to become a platform for interactions or abuse of the states, or interfering in their affairs. Dr. Salah said that the countries which are committed to the international acts with human rights are always exposed to attack and criticism, even from countries that are not a party of those acts, which is something surprising, as if they are presenting wrong messages to countries to avoid ratification on the conventions relating to human rights, to secure themselves more responsibilities and accountabilities. Dr. Salah also pointed out that the Kingdom has signed seven of the nine human rights treaties and seeks to join the rest. Dr. Salah also noted that there is also an increased pressure on the countries where the civil society enjoys the freedom of movement and work freely and effectively, while the countries that do not have movement of civil society institutions or the movement is weak or restricted, are not exposed to any pressure or follow up, which sends an impression and negative messages for the states in this regard. Dr. Salah highlighted that Kingdom of Bahrain in order to implement the recommendations issued by the (UPR) during this year, has formed a Supreme Coordinating Committee of human rights from the various concerned ministries, in order to follow up the implementation of those recommendations and speed up their implementation. Dr. Salah said that some recommendations have been already implemented, and there are some that need time, which fall within the powers of the legislative authority, highlighting the importance of the civil society institutions in following up those recommendations, and keeping everyone aware of their importance, and the issues related to them. Minister of Human Rights Affairs pointed out the important role played by the media in providing information and monitoring steps for the implementation of the recommendations issued by (UPR), as well as the dissemination of culture and awareness for those reviews using a simple way to let the information reach the different components of society. The Minister also said that the Kingdom of Bahrain has established the National Foundation for Human Rights in accordance with Paris Principles, which has powers and wide terms of reference in the field of rights and in accordance with the adopted principles for the work of those institutions. The Minister concluded his speech praising the importance of the UPR programme, and Bahrain’s desire to cooperate and benefit from all the outcomes of that programme in promoting human rights in the kingdom, saying that a technical delegation from the High Commissioner for Human Rights would visit Kingdom of Bahrain from 2nd to 6th of December, 2012. The delegation will discuss the needs of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of the various human rights, and set a working programme to implement those needs. Dr. Salah also highlighted that Kingdom of Bahrain has invited the High Commissioner for Human Right to visit the Kingdom during the first half of next year, to meet with the political leadership, and also with a number of officials and civil society institutions. Dr. Salah said that each country has its own specialty and experience, therefore there are no templates for all, highlighting the need to take into account the historical and religious particularities, and customs and cultures of each country. The Minister concluded his speech, expressing his pleasure to participate in that conference and thanked the personnel in charge of its organization, wishing all success for all countries and their peoples.