Manama, March 1 (BNA): Bahrain actually participated in the high-level meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on February 28 and March 2.
In his speech, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani reviewed the efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain in promoting and protecting human rights within the framework of the comprehensive reform approach led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the follow-up of His Highness. Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Al-Zayani pointed to the dire consequences of wars and conflicts in the Middle East, which have deprived millions of young people of education, health care, shelter, peace and security.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to support peace in the region and the world, maintain international security, develop international relations, and achieve international cooperation.
Efforts are guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant international and regional agreements based on the approach of His Majesty, which calls for the promotion of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, brotherhood, cooperation and peace among all peoples of the world.
In this regard, he referred to the establishment of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence, the launch of the Sheikh Isa Award for Service to Humanity, the issuance of the Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration, and the establishment of the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue. Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence at Sapienza University, Italy.
The minister stressed that based on the directives of His Majesty the King, the government of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, focused on addressing this epidemic in a constructive and effective manner, taking into account all health, economic and social aspects. and educational aspects.
The government has placed at the forefront of its priorities the preservation of the health and safety of citizens and residents alike, and has provided health isolation centers, examination, treatment and free vaccination for all citizens and residents without discrimination.
The minister indicated that the national vaccination campaign in Bahrain, thanks to societal awareness and demand for vaccination, has achieved great success, as the percentage of those receiving the first and second vaccination doses reached 96% of the total eligible for vaccination. From the age of 18 and over.
The proportion of those who received the booster dose was 85% of the total eligible persons of the same age group.
He pointed out that the Kingdom has succeeded in vaccinating children, as the vaccination rate for the age group from 12 to 17 years reached 92%, and the number of adults between 3 and 11 years of age who received the vaccination reached more than 24,000, the number of registered persons so far has reached more than 30,000. .
The minister stressed that Bahrain’s continuous efforts to develop the human rights system, and its advanced steps in the field of care and support for human needs, are closely linked to its relentless endeavors to implement Bahrain’s Vision 2030 and achieve the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. Nations.
It is also linked to reaching high levels of human development and welfare indicators, and supporting the effective participation of women in the development process.
The minister emphasized that the government was able to include 78% of the United Nations sustainable development goals in the government’s 2019-2022 plan, and the national plan for implementing Bahrain’s 2030 vision.
The Cabinet also assigned ministries and government agencies to align their goals, plans and policies in the current government work program (2019-2022) with the sustainable development goals.
The minister indicated that Bahrain considers environmental protection and combating climate change a major goal in the process of promoting and protecting human rights, so the Kingdom deals with the outcomes of the (COP26) conference by continuing to develop its climate system.
This will enable it to address the effects of climate change and its direct impact on the right to live in a healthy environment that stimulates work and production.
The minister emphasized that the government continued its efforts in developing the legislative system related to strengthening the protection of human rights, as the Law on Alternative Provisions and Measures was issued in 2017 and amended in 2021.
This is a pioneering step in the field of reforming and rehabilitating those convicted of crimes, and returning them to their social environment and normal life.
He added that the number of beneficiaries of the application of this law reached 3,826, 60% of whom completed the alternative punishment decided by the judiciary for them, which is an important indicator of the success of this humanitarian program.
He stressed that the government paid great attention to children’s rights and ensured their belonging in a safe environment reinforced by modern and advanced laws and legislation to ensure their proper upbringing at various stages of their lives.
The Restorative Justice and Protection of Children Act 2021 was enacted under which courts called Child Restorative Justice Courts are established to hear criminal cases arising from offenses committed by children over the age of 15. But not more than 18 years old at the time of the offense.
A special prosecution unit for children’s crimes was also established.
The minister indicated that this law constitutes a qualitative addition to the modern legislative and judicial system and the executive procedures that guarantee the rights of children and protect them from abuse, exploitation or moral, physical and spiritual neglect, and take care of their health and safety. Education, where children represent the hope and future of the nation.
The minister stressed that the Kingdom of Bahrain continues to make great progress in combating human trafficking. It was ranked for the fourth year in a row within Category 1 in the annual report of the US State Department on human trafficking, which is the highest annual international rating in this regard, making the Kingdom unique in this achievement among the countries of the Middle East and North Africa region.
Al-Zayani emphasized that efforts to support the advancement of women in Bahrain witnessed a qualitative shift that began two decades ago with the establishment of the Supreme Council for Women, which developed national policies and qualitative plans to promote women’s rights, most notably the National Plan. For the advancement of Bahraini women.
It was approved by His Majesty the King, which, in cooperation with all national partners, resulted in many qualitative strategies in the areas of empowering women, increasing their contribution to the national economy and protecting them from all forms of discrimination.
Al-Zayani said that the rate of women’s participation in national development has risen steadily until it has reached an advanced stage in which women are on an equal footing with men in the fields of work.
The percentage of women in executive positions in the government sector reached 46%, in the private sector 34%, and on the boards of directors of private companies 17%.
He said that Bahrain, through its permanent mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Geneva, contributed to presenting a joint statement during the 48th session of the Human Rights Council entitled Strengthening the Role of Women in Peacemaking and Multilateral Diplomacy, which was joined by more than 60 countries. .
The minister added that Bahrain, believing in the importance of cooperation with the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council and the treaty bodies concerned with human rights, continued its positive cooperation with these mechanisms and bodies.
In this regard, he referred to the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism, according to which the Kingdom submitted three national reports approved by the Council, in addition to three voluntary mid-term reports showing the extent to which the accepted recommendations of that mechanism have been implemented.
The Kingdom is currently working on finalizing its fourth national report, which will be reviewed next November, and reviewing its national reports on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
He added that the Government of Bahrain, believing in the importance of continuing to strengthen the human rights infrastructure in the Kingdom, and in addition to the national plans and strategies adopted by many official bodies in various human rights sectors, has translated the principles into patriotism. Labor Charter and Constitution.
The plan of the National Human Rights Committee, in cooperation with all concerned parties from various official and civil bodies, has been prepared as a phased framework to achieve its goals for the Kingdom, in line with national and international obligations.
He pointed out that in order to reach the highest levels of quality, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a declaration of intent with the Office of the Resident Coordinator of United Nations Activities in the Kingdom of Bahrain to provide advice on the preparation of the National Human Rights Plan. .
The minister said that Bahrain continues its efforts to promote and protect human rights at all levels, within the framework of effective partnership between its governmental and official institutions and civil society, and in constructive cooperation with the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. We look forward to intensifying joint efforts to achieve the lofty goals.