Sandeep Singh Grewal – AHN Middle East Correspondent
Geneva, Switzerland (AHN) — Bahrain made gender equality, women’s empowerment and protection of migrant workers its main bragging points Monday as the country became the first to come under the scanner of the UN Human Rights Council here.
The three-hour interactive Universal Periodic Process session, shown live on the Web, was led by Dr.Nizar Al Baharna, minister of state for foreign affairs, who headed the Bahrain delegation. He was accompanied by lawmakers and senior government officials.
Sandeep Singh Grewal – AHN Middle East Correspondent
Geneva, Switzerland (AHN) — Bahrain made gender equality, women’s empowerment and protection of migrant workers its main bragging points Monday as the country became the first to come under the scanner of the UN Human Rights Council here.
The three-hour interactive Universal Periodic Process session, shown live on the Web, was led by Dr.Nizar Al Baharna, minister of state for foreign affairs, who headed the Bahrain delegation. He was accompanied by lawmakers and senior government officials.
Al Baharna said, “We have prepared the report in a transparent and non-politicised manner. It is not switch on or off, it is a process which shows the human rights situation on the ground. We received criticism and modified our action plan. It is a privilege and responsibility to be the first country to be reviewed.”
Bahrain is the first country whose human rights record will be reviewed at the Council. Forty-eight countries are scheduled to undergo the UPR process.
Representatives of member states praised Bahrain’s report and said it was a model for other countries to follow.
Women’s empowerment was one of the main issues raised by member states.
Sameera Rajab, member of the Bahrain Shura (Consultative) Council said, “There is a law enacted which provides maternity leave for women. We will also continue to amend legislations which discriminate women.”
Bahrain’s only women parliamentarian, Lathifa Al Gaoud, added that “The parliament is studying a bill which enables women to work from their home. The MP’s also voted unanimously for setting up a National Human Rights Commission.”
Al Baharna revealed that the Commission was approved by the Bahrain cabinet and would be set up this year.
The minister also spoke about the new press law and freedom of expression and association.
He added that Bahrain was considering a law to give more rights and privileges to female domestic workers.
Bahrain’s commitment to combat human trafficking was also highlighted, as a member of the Bahrain delegation said they were not denying or covering up human trafficking, which he said was a global phenomenon. He claimed that a new law on human trafficking in the kingdom was the best in the Arab world.
A representative from Switzerland questioned the delegation about the absence of a codified family law. A member of the Bahrain Supreme Council of Women replied, “This law is based on Islamic Sharia which is regulated in Arab and Islamic countries. Some members of the civil society are spreading awareness on the issue in universities and schools.”
Bahrain’s report was also praised by the representative from the United States, who said the kingdom had made efforts to integrate Shias in the community and to protect expatriate workers.
However it was not all praise. Bahraini activist Nabeel Rajab, who attended the session, told AHN on Monday, “It is a great disappointment that Arab countries hijacked the process by consuming time praising the report rather than raising key issues. I am also not happy with the response from Indian and Bangladeshi representatives who only praised and did not speak about protection of migrant workers,” he said.
The UPR process calls for all UN member states to be reviewed over the next four years.
