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Manama, April 11 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today issued Resolution No. 35/2023 establishing and forming the National Human Rights Committee (hereinafter referred to as the “committee”). Based on the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and after the approval of the Council of Ministers:
The committee is chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and consists of the following members:
1. Undersecretary for Planning, Family Reconciliation and Alimony at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments.
2. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs
3. Coordinator at the Prime Minister’s Office.
4. Secretary General of the Ombudsman.
5. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development.
6. Executive Vice President for Implementation and Protection at the Labor Market Regulatory Authority.
7. Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Interior.
8. Vice-President of the Legislation and Legal Opinion Authority.
9. Chief Executive Officer of the National Contact Center.
10. Head of the Special Investigation Unit of the Public Prosecution.
11. Head of the Human Rights Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
12. Consultant for International Relations and Follow-up at the Supreme Council for Women.
13. Director of the Labor Relations Department at the Ministry of Labor.
The committee nominates the representatives of the entities based on the nomination.
Committee members serve for a renewable term of three years. In the event that any membership becomes vacant for any reason, a representative of the same entity shall replace it until the end of its term.
The committee is responsible for coordinating with government agencies in all matters related to human rights, according to the competence of each agency, and in particular:
1. Establish a coordination mechanism to ensure the best policies for dealing with human rights issues.
2. Follow up the implementation of the National Plan for Human Rights at the governmental level and submit an annual report to the Council of Ministers
3. Preparing responses to statements and inquiries issued by organizations and associations inside and outside the Kingdom related to human rights.
4. Preparing reports that the Kingdom of Bahrain is committed to submit in implementation of the agreements it has joined in the field of human rights.
5. Considering the requests of international organizations working in the field of human rights wishing to send a representative to Bahrain.
6. Follow up on the implementation of recommendations related to human rights and submit periodic reports to the Council of Ministers.
7. Submitting recommendations related to human rights issues to the Council of Ministers.
8. Preparing studies on local laws in line with the agreements to which the Kingdom has joined in the field of human rights.
9. Any other issues referred to it by the committee chairman.
The Committee reviews and approves all national reports prepared by subnational committees on the obligations of the Kingdom of Bahrain before the bodies established under the international human rights treaties of the United Nations system.
The committee meets at the invitation of its chairman at least once a month at the place and time determined by the chairman, or more frequently if necessary.
The chairman must be present for the meeting to be valid, and it must be attended by the majority of the members. The committee sets regulations for its work system.
If a member is absent from any meeting, the competent authority may appoint another person to represent him, provided that such person has the same employment status.
The committee issues its decisions by the majority of the votes of the members present, and in the event of equality, the side of the chairperson is cast.
The chairman of the committee shall invite whomever he deems appropriate from among the experts and specialists and from organizations or bodies from inside or outside the Kingdom to attend its meetings in order to seek guidance from their opinions without having the right to vote.
The committee shall have a rapporteur chosen by the chairman, who shall prepare its meetings and agendas and write the minutes of the meetings.
The relevant ministries, institutions and agencies in the Kingdom are obligated to provide the committee with the data and information it requests and deems necessary for its work.
In its first meeting, the Committee shall form a Communications and Follow-up Sub-Committee that studies complaints and incoming correspondence and prepares responses and reports. The Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the subcommittee’s secretariat.
The committee chair is responsible for appointing the subcommittee chair.
The sub-committee meets in accordance with the requirements of its objectives or as often as the need arises, at least once a month.
The sub-committee may seek the assistance of whomever it deems to have expertise and competence to prepare studies and research on the topics presented to it.
Decision No. 31/2017 re-establishing the Higher Coordinating Body for Human Rights is annulled.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall implement the provisions of this decision, and it shall come into effect upon its issuance, and shall be published in the Official Gazette.
HF