By SOMAN BABY
Published: 4th January 2008
BAHRAIN is putting its human rights record on show to the world, with the good and bad for all to see, it declared yesterday. “We have nothing to hide,” said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Nazar Al Baharna.
Bahrain will become the first country to put its human rights record up for review by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva next month, under a new global monitoring system.
By SOMAN BABY
Published: 4th January 2008
BAHRAIN is putting its human rights record on show to the world, with the good and bad for all to see, it declared yesterday. “We have nothing to hide,” said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Nazar Al Baharna.
Bahrain will become the first country to put its human rights record up for review by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva next month, under a new global monitoring system.
The report is being prepared in consultation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) dealing with human rights issues, labour unions, human rights committees and women’s societies.
Dr Al Baharna met representatives of these groups, along with parliament and Shura Council members, at his office on Wednesday, to get their input on the report.
“The 20-page report will be submitted to the council in Geneva before February 25 and the discussion will be held on April 7,” he told the GDN.
“The NGOs have already presented their 10-page report to the council.”
Dr Al Baharna, who met chief editors of the local media yesterday, said the report would be realistic, portraying the civilised picture of Bahrain.
“As our country develops, the human rights side is also progressing and our people are mature enough to handle the issues,” he noted.
Dr Al Baharna said the methodology used in preparing the report would be creative, open and transparent.
“We shall include feedback from human rights organisations,” he noted.
“All the laws issued in Bahrain to support human rights will be included.
“We will clearly show how many of these have already been implemented.”
Dr Al Baharna said the report would also talk about the constraints in implementing certain regulations.
“We have nothing to hide. We want the public to be aware of what we are doing. It is not a propaganda,” he noted.
“We are proud that Bahrain will be among the first 16 UN members which will have their human rights records reviewed next month under a crucial new process implemented by the council.”
Out of 192 member countries of the UN, 48 are selected for scrutiny each year.
“These 48 are divided into three of 16 each, and Bahrain is the first among the 16,” said Dr Al Baharna.
“We are therefore going to set a pace for others. We have no models to follow.”
The selection for the Universal Periodic Review was made by a random draw in September last year.
It lays out a timetable for the systematic review of all 192 UN member states by the end of 2011.
UN human rights chief Louise Arbour urged the 47 countries in the council to speed up the process, warning that the credibility of the UN human rights system was at stake.
The council agreed in June last year to adopt the Universal Periodic Review, under which all countries have their human rights record reviewed once in four years.
soman@gdn.com.bh
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? Gulf Daily News
