115 international organizations praise Bahrain's efforts in promoting democracy, human rights

Manama, Oct. 18 (BNA): A total of 115 international organizations for promotion of democracy and human rights across the world have expressed their appreciation of Bahrain's democratic experience that spans 50 years of democratic practice and the establishment of a state of institutions and law. The organizations commended the progress of the Bahraini experience under the auspices of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa that placed the Kingdom at the forefront of the countries in the region in vitalizing the parliament and popular participation. In a statement, the organizations said that Bahrain's experience, rooted in its rational and exemplary dimension, has deepened thanks to the royal care and the broad popular support of the Bahraini people who endorsed in a popular plebiscite of more than 98% on the National Action Charter in 2001. The Charter affirmed deep commitment to the democratic approach, popular participation, the establishment of a state of institutions and law in Bahrain, and the launch of democratic practice and parliament in conjunction with the reforms by HM Majesty the King. Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) President Isa Al Arabi said that Bahrain's outstanding experience, under the leadership of HM King Hamad is one of the most prominent in the region to achieve democracy and popular parliamentary participation. "The government, headed by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, is keen, through cooperation and partnership, on fulfilling the lofty royal aspirations and the ambitions of the Bahraini people," he said. "This is an experience that the Kingdom of Bahrain has been successfully pursuing with high integrity and transparency amid a government and popular commitment to reinforce the popular democracy launched in the Kingdom under the National Action Charter and the Constitution to bolster national achievements." The AOHR that represents the largest Arab and international coalition of regional and international human rights organizations concerned with promoting respect for human rights and democracy in the Arab world, in partnership with 115 international organizations issued their statement in appreciation of Bahrain's distinguished international status, he added. He added that the organizations represent a wide range of European and Arab non-governmental organizations and centers with consultative status at the United Nations. "They are concerned with the promotion of democracy and human rights in the world, and specialized in evaluating the obligations of states related to the implementation of democracy and the establishment of a state of institutions and law, and promoting popular participation," Al Arabi said. "They are also specialized in ensuring that states fulfill their human rights obligations, especially civil and political rights, taking into account that all people, and women in particular, enjoy their full rights throughout all phases and activities of popular participation in the electoral process." Al Arabi said that the organizations expressed their appreciation of Bahrain’s progress in fulfilling its commitment to protecting democracy, establishing parliament processes and popular participation, and holding democratic and parliamentary elections on their due dates, despite the hostile external dangers and threats that targeted its security, stability and development. "They also commended His Majesty the King’s keenness to promote popular participation in the administration of the state, protect the parliamentary process launched more than five decades ago and the completion of two decades of democratic prosperity based on partnership, integration and transparency. This process emanated from the National Action Charter and the reform project of HM the King." Al Arabi stressed the importance of the role of the young generation that grew up within the reforms and the consolidation of the democratic governance and popular participation in Bahrain. "This experience can be considered, according to the statement of the international organizations, a unique model in good governance and the establishment of a state of institutions and law under governmental and popular care," he said. Al Arabi stressed the importance of organizing the parliamentary and municipal elections for the sixth time with a popular participation that is the largest since the start of the democratic experience in Bahrain and the establishment of parliamentary processes. He also praised the popular commitment to participate in the national entitlement. He emphasized the importance of popular participation and the reinforcement and protection of the experience as well as the need for everyone to exercise their civil and political rights by participating in the elections and expressing their free and independent will in choosing their representatives in the Council of Representatives. "The youth and women have a special role in protecting and maintaining the democratic experiment, and according to the statement of international organizations, Bahrain was the first country in the region to guarantee women the right to exercise their civil and political rights," he said. Al Arabi called on women to participate actively in the election of candidates who would enhance their rights and ensure that everyone enjoys their basic rights and freedoms enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights and in international covenants concerned with democracy, popular participation, and a state of institutions and law. The statement represents the international community and reflects the status enjoyed by Bahrain under the leadership of HM the King and the appreciation of the international civil society for the reforms, he said. "It is an international tribute to Bahrain's distinguished democratic experience and to the government's efforts to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in order to enable all citizens to participate in the elections freely and independently." Al Arabi stressed the importance of the participation of all political and civil societies and Bahraini civil society institutions in the elections. The people should have an active role in the monitoring of the elections in accordance with national mechanisms and ensure their consistency with the national legislation on protecting the integrity of democratic practice," Al Arabi said.