Bahrain Works on Improving its Human Rights Status

“This year, our human rights report was, by far, the most professional and controversial, due to the quality of work and research that was integrated into the compiling of the report”, commented Abdulla Alderazi, Assistant Secretary General of the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS).  Alderazi is hopeful that recommendations made in BHRS’ sixth human rights report, will occupy a priority place on the Bahraini Parliament’s agenda scheduled to convene in October 2008.  Supported by the Middle East Partnership Initiative’s (MEPI) local grants program, BHRS gathered fifteen representatives from civil society and political organizations, in August 2008, to review the Society’s draft human rights report and identify the most pressing recommendations to be presented to the government and parliament for endorsement.  BHRS also held a press conference, launching the report, which was attended by representatives of the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local diplomatic missions, labor unions, political associations, and civil society organizations.

The main recommendations of BHRS’ report discussed proposed amendments related to Bahrain’s Family Law, the country’s reservations with the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), transitional justice, criminalizing all forms of discrimination, adjustments of national laws to ensure compliance with international treaties, and constitutional amendments to enable full parliamentary elections.   BHRS submitted its proposed amendments to Government of Bahrain’s executive and legislative authorities, and the Society will be lobbying for parliamentarian support. Alderazi is hopeful that at least two BHRS recommendations will be endorsed by the government, as they have already received positive responses from different sectors of the society, including several parliamentarians.

The 2007 report has been translated to English and BHRS is planning to produce 1,000 copies to be disseminated to the King and other members of the ruling family, consultative council members and parliamentarians, diplomatic missions, political and civic organizations, and Bahrain’s active citizenry.  BHRS hopes to continue its cooperation with MEPI, in order to carry on its professional work and raise the status of human rights in Bahrain.

BHRS is a non-governmental organization that was established in Bahrain in May 2001.  Its work focuses on monitoring and reporting on human rights, political reform developments, and rule of law issues, and providing pro – bono legal assistance in response to human rights abuses.

The launch of its latest human rights report was widely covered in local press such as Gulf Daily Article One, and Gulf Daily Article Two.