Ambassador Dr. Yousif Abdulkarim Bucheeri, the Director General of Legal Affairs and Human Rights at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, led the delegation of Bahrain in discussing the kingdom’s second periodic report on human rights at the Arab Charter Committee.

Dr. Bucheeri emphasised the commitment of Bahrain to human rights under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, and Prime Minister.

He highlighted the strategic partnership of the kingdom with the Arab League and its human rights committees. Bahrain, being one of the first countries to ratify the Arab Charter for Human Rights in 2006, submitted its first periodic national report to the Charter Committee in 2019.

The ambassador showcased the laws and strategies applied by Bahrain to protect the rights of various groups. He said that one of the key indicators of Bahrain’s progress in this regard was maintaining Tier 1 status for six consecutive years in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report).

The legislative and executive measures of Bahrain have been commended internationally for their focus on family, women, children, youth, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and vulnerable groups, he added.

The ambassador also touched on the royal pardon decree issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s decree which included 1584 inmates in rioting and criminal cases, marking the kingdom’s celebrations of the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty’s Accession and Eid Al Fitr.

The decree aimed at contributing to the cohesion and stability of Bahraini society and its social fabric, safeguarding individual and civil rights, and adhering to the principles of justice, the rule of law, and the preservation of judicial independence. It also aims to strike a balance between retribution and the humanitarian and social circumstances of the convicted inmates. It offers the opportunity for positive re-integration into society, promoting the values of human rights in line with the Kingdom’s approach in this regard.

The ambassador also shed light on the directives of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to the Ministry of Labour to ensure that all pardoned individuals are registered as beneficiaries of unemployment benefits for jobseekers.

Ambassador Bucheeri emphasised that Bahrain is advancing its human rights and development process through the National Human Rights Plan (2022-2026), of which 40%  has been completed within two years.

The plan encompasses civil, political, economic, social, and cultural aspects, focusing on vulnerable groups and solidarity rights.

The Chairman and members of the Arab Charter for Human Rights Committee commended the progress of Bahrain in human rights, lauding the timely report submission kingdom, clear responses, and constructive dialogue.

BNA