Bahrain's human rights efforts lauded

Manama, Sept. 12 (BNA): A high profile delegation of former Presidents and Heads of organisations who previously received Nobel Peace Prize and who are currently on a visit to Bahrain visited today Bahrain National Theatre where they were welcomed by President of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa. They were accompanied by Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Mutawa and Shaikh Hussam bin Isa Al Khalifa. A lecture was given by former President of South Africa Frederick William de Klerk, former President of Poland Lech Walesa and Nobel Peace laureate 2014 Kailash Satyarthi, the President of the Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation (KSCF). It was attended by a number of ministers, senior officials, ambassadors, media persons, journalists and academics. At the beginning, President of the Global Security Institute Jonathan Granoff reviewed the biographies of the participants in the lecture, thanking His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa for the gracious welcome and hospitality. The participants spoke about co-existence in Bahrain and cohesion characterising the Bahraini community, lauding the kingdom's efforts to foster human rights and ensure optimum services and care for citizens and expatriates. The former President of South Africa congratulated Bahrain on its success in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 which were approved by the United Nations and which earned respect of the international community during Bahrain's submission last July of its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) at a High-level Political Forum (HLPF) of the UN Economic and Social Council. Mr. Frederick William de Klerk spotlighted the history of the conflict in his country before achieving peace, pointing out current challenges facing South Africa. He underscored the need to promote peace worldwide and work out solutions to end ethnic, cultural and religious conflicts in some parts of the world. Then, the former President of Poland shed light on challenges to the global economic system and the steps to be taken for the welfare of the posterity. He also cast light on the history of the conflict in Europe and the current political and economic challenges facing the world. Meanwhile, Mr. Kailash Satyarthi spoke about children's rights, lauding the respect and care given by Bahrain for human rights and dignity amid a global disregard of children's right to education and entertainment. He related real stories on the suffering and maltreatment of children in some parts of the world, describing killing children's dreams as the biggest human crime. He stressed that the problem of educating children who are suffering in some parts of the world, for example, can be solved by providing only $ 22 billion. He underlined the need for cooperation to preserve the right of the children to education and entertainment and face globalisation values that focused on consumption needs and neglected human and children's rights. He called for more openness to exchange ideas and experiences for a better world based on mercy and religious values. The audience expressed appreciation of the rich experiences reviewed by the lecturers, mainly concerning ending conflicts and achieving peace and co-existence. They described them as positive models that can benefit the world in backing global peace efforts.