Foreign Minister chairs Higher Coordination Committee for Human Rights meeting

Manama, Apr. 4 (BNA): Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, chaired the meeting of the Higher Coordination Committee for Human Rights following its restructure, with the participation of the Assistant Foreign Minister and Vice Chairman of the Committee, Abdullah bin Faisal bin Jabur Al-Doseri. The Minister noted the active role played by the Committee in following up coordination among the authorities concerned in the field of protecting human rights and promoting the Kingdom’s efforts in this regard at the regional and international levels. He praised the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to matters relating to the protection of human rights in Bahrain to ensure that the Kingdom adheres to the principles and objectives of the United Nations to respect for human rights, consolidate the values of tolerance and coexistence and preserve human dignity and freedom. He also praised the measures and initiatives taken by the government, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to enhance the protection of human rights, develop the legislative system, and follow up on the implementation of the principles and rights it has adopted. He added that the government has issued two important laws to promote human rights in the Kingdom, the first is the Alternative Penal Code, which is an important step forward in the field of reform and rehabilitation, and the second is the Correctional Justice Law for Children and their Protection from Abuse, among many others. Dr. Al-Zayani expressed his thanks and appreciation for the valuable contributions made by the members of the Committee to organise workshops to prepare the National Plan for Human Rights, praising the efforts exerted by the Assistant Foreign Minister and the Human Rights Directorate at the Ministry in that regard. The Committee also discussed a number of topics and reports on its agenda.