Royal human rights initiatives lauded

Manama, Oct. 11 (BNA): Information Affairs Minister, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD), Ali bin Mohammed Al-Romaihi, has lauded His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s initiative to activate the terms of reference of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), and its role in consolidating and protecting human rights, under the provisions of the Constitution and national legislation, and in accordance with the Paris Principles of 1993 relating to the Status of National Institutions, as well as the global human rights standards. Ever since its inauguration following the endorsement of the Bahraini people of the National Action Charter and the constitutional amendments by an overwhelming majority of 98.4% 15 years ago, HM the King’s pioneering Reform Project has ensured respect for human rights and dignity for all the citizens without discrimination based on race, religion, creed, gender or opinion, he said. The minister added that the royal reform project laid the foundation bases for the state of law and institutions, within the framework of separation between the executive, legislative and judicial branches and their cooperation in accordance with the constitution, and paved the way for setting up independent human rights institutions and associations. He pointed out that the expansion of the powers of the NIHR, the Office of the Ombudsman at the Ministry of Interior, the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission (PDRC) and the Special Investigation (SIU) at the Public Prosecution, among others, embodies the kingdom’s voluntary commitments within the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. The kingdom’s human rights strides are also reflected in its ratification of more than 24 international conventions, particularly the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), as well as those related to the elimination of racial discrimination and elimination of discrimination against women, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and others, he said. Al-Romaihi explained that under the recent amendments, the NIHR shall have the right to undertake announced and unannounced field visits to monitor the human rights situation at reformation institutions, detention centres, workers’ gatherings, and health and education establishments. It shall also cooperate with the civil society organisations, and request ministries and relevant bodies to respond to the remarks and recommendations featuring in its reports, and submit to it any information, data or documents it deems necessary to achieve its goals, he added. Al-Romaihi affirmed the keenness of the Information Affairs Ministry and the BIPD to cooperate with the NIHR and the Board of Commissioners in making proposals and recommendations, holding forums and conducting studies to contribute to consolidating and spreading the human rights respect culture, and highlighting the national human rights achievements and efforts through media and communication outlets. The minister voiced pride in the achievements attained during HM the King’s prosperous era regarding the widening of press and media freedoms and the consolidation of media outlets’ freedom and independence, as well as the existence of more than 60 daily and periodic newspapers and magazines and the development of press and media laws and charters. He also affirmed that the new National Communication Centre (NCC) represents a crucial step to unify the official media discourse and increase its influence, adding that NCC will serve as a tool to highlight and project the real democratic and human rights developments in the kingdom and abroad.