OHRHC visit to Bahrain set

A technical delegation representing the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHRHC) will visit the Kingdom of Bahrain in the first week of next month (December2012 ). Human Rights Affairs Minister Dr. Salah bin Ali Abdulrahman said that the visit follows an invitation extended by the Government of Bahrain. The OHRHC technical delegation paid a similar visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain last december 2011. The OHRHC team will be updated on rights reforms achieved so far and gauge Bahrain’s needs in terms of OHRHC technical assitance towards implementing the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) recommendations regarding the Comprehensive Periodic Review. The UN delegation will meet senior officials, NGOs as well as the National Human Rights Organisation to assess the needs of the technical cooperation programme between Bahrain and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHRHC). « The ministry hopes to reach a programme for technical cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHRHC) », Dr. Ali said. He described the visit as reflecting the transparency of the political leadership in dealing with the human rights dossier. He affirmed Bahrain’s open-door policy, weloming all acknowledged UN agencies and watchdogs to visit the Kingdom and keep abreast of human rights strides achieved to-date. « Bahrain’s strides under the reform project led by His Majesty the King were achieved in developed countries after decades-long democratic changes », the minister said. He commended UN agencies and watchdogs for sharing its wealth of expertise to promote human rights in Bahrain institutionally for the Kingdom to rank among advanced states. He outlined Bahrain’s courageous and bold human rights initiatives, citing particularly the formation of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) and the establishment of special committees in charge of implementing the BICI and National Consensus Dialogue recommendations.