Geneva – June 25, 2025
On the sidelines of the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), together with international partners like FIDH, RAFTO, Civicus, Gulf Centre for Human Rights, Cairo Institute for Human Rights and Salam for Democracy in Bahrain hosted a high-level side event to shed light on the ongoing human rights crisis in Bahrain and the urgent need for meaningful reform.
The event was moderated by Aoife Daly from FIDH who opened the side event by providing a comprehensive introduction to the current human rights situation in Bahrain. She highlighted the continued deterioration of civic space, the repression of dissent, and the systematic targeting of human rights defenders and political activists. Aoife emphasized the importance of acknowledging these realities and the responsibility of the international community to respond. She underlined the need to move beyond statements and toward concrete actions—calling for meaningful dialogue, accountability, and sustained international pressure to ensure the protection of fundamental freedoms in Bahrain. Her opening remarks set the tone for a critical and solution-focused discussion.
Nedal Al-Salman, Director of BCHR and Vice President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), opened the discussion by tracing Bahrain’s historical and persistent demands for equality, justice, and democratic participation. She emphasized that this is a critical moment for national dialogue and reconciliation, urging the Bahraini government to listen to the voices of its people and commit to inclusive reforms that respect human rights and dignity.
Jawad Fairooz, representing Salam for Democracy and Human Rights, focused on the political isolation laws and the ongoing crackdown on civil and political society, explaining how these laws effectively exclude peaceful opposition voices and contribute to the complete closure of civic space.
Mayssa Achek, of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, highlighted the role of UN mechanisms and international advocacy in confronting state repression and supporting human rights defenders. She called for increased engagement with Special Procedures and a stronger commitment from the international community to push for accountability and reform in Bahrain.
A representative from the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty delivered a compelling statement on the continued use of capital punishment in Bahrain and called for an immediate moratorium on executions, especially in cases where due process and fair trial guarantees have been violated.
In her closing remarks, Nedal Al-Salman reaffirmed the call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political detainees, including Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, a renowned human rights defender and founder of BCHR, who has now spent over a decade behind bars for his peaceful activism.
The event witnessed active participation from representatives of nine country delegations, including Australia, Oman, Austria, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Denmark, Malta, and Liechtenstein. The event also brought together a broad group of international NGOs, human rights organizations, and diplomatic missions, all committed to advancing justice and accountability in Bahrain.