Towards Equity and Reconciliation in Bahrain
National conference of civil society groups
Bahrain, 26th June 2007
Dear organizers,
Dear participants,
Dear friends,
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) wishes to convey the strong support of its President, Souhayr Belhassen and its Secretary General, Driss El Yazami who unfortunately could not be here on this occasion, to the initiative which brings you together today and which has been initiated by among others, both FIDH member organisations in Bahrain, the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR).
Towards Equity and Reconciliation in Bahrain
National conference of civil society groups
Bahrain, 26th June 2007
Dear organizers,
Dear participants,
Dear friends,
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) wishes to convey the strong support of its President, Souhayr Belhassen and its Secretary General, Driss El Yazami who unfortunately could not be here on this occasion, to the initiative which brings you together today and which has been initiated by among others, both FIDH member organisations in Bahrain, the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR).
The issue of transitional justice is of essential importance for FIDH. This priority has been firmly reiterated at the FIDH last Congress, last April in Lisbon. In the area of transitional justice, FIDH has initiated numerous activities over the past years, in several countries. In the Arab region, FIDH has been particularly involved with its member organisations in Morocco in the process creating the Equity and Reconciliation Commission and later on, in its follow-up. More recently, FIDH has also supported and encouraged similar initiative to the event which gathers you today. Last year, FIDH organised a first meeting gathering Lebanese civil society representatives to discuss about the modalities of a potential establishement of a truth and reconciliation commission in Lebanon. In March 2007, Algerian associations of victims and human rights organizations held a seminar entitled « Towards Truth, Justice and Conciliation in Algeria » in Brussels, organized thanks to FIDH cooperation and support.
Although the decision to create a truth and reconciliation commission should result from a political will, the role and involvement of civil society groups is essential and indispensable for a positive and effective process. So, FIDH warmly welcomes the initiative launched since more than a year by Bahraini human rights and political groups aiming to initiate a dialog and a shared brain-storming on what should be such a transitional justice process in Bahrain. The official establishment today of a « Truth and Reconcilation Commission » composed of Bahraini NGOs and political groups constitutes an important first step towards truth and reconciliation.
Resort to truth commissions is in line with a more general transitional process leading to a more democratic society, more respectful of human rights. The first improvements recorded in Bahrain regarding the implementation of democratic reforms as well as the protection and promotion of democratic values and human rights over the past years suggest that Bahrain is ready for making light and confront itself with its recent past and the severe human rights violations which occured during this period. The participation of representatives of the Bahraini authorities in the « dialog seminar » organized last Saturday and in this current national conference illustrates the interest of Bahraini governement for this issue and its probable willing to initiate a constructive dialog in this aim. The creation and implemention of a transitional justice process is a long term process. FIDH is definitely willing to support its member organisations and partners as well as to contribute to facilitate dialog and discussions with all parties, civil society and authorities, throughout the way which will lead to truth, reconciliation and justice for the Bahraini people .