Friday, December 5, 2008
We, the undersigned, are activists and human rights defenders, who, individually and in association with others, strive for the protection and realization of fundamental freedoms as well as the economical, social, cultural, civil and political rights in Bahrain and abroad.
Friday, December 5, 2008
We, the undersigned, are activists and human rights defenders, who, individually and in association with others, strive for the protection and realization of fundamental freedoms as well as the economical, social, cultural, civil and political rights in Bahrain and abroad.
On basis of the Declaration articles recognizing the right and the responsibility of individuals, groups and associations to promote respect for, and foster knowledge of, human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels, known as “the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders” which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998. In particular, reference is made to Article 1, which states that
“Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”
And Article 2, which states that:”
1. Each State has a prime responsibility and duty to protect, promote and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms, inter alia by adopting such steps as may be necessary to create all conditions necessary in the social, economic, political as well as other fields and the legal guarantees required to ensure that all persons under its jurisdiction, individually and in association with others, are able to enjoy all these rights and freedoms in practice.
2. Each State shall adopt such legislative, administrative and other steps as may be necessary to ensure that the rights and freedoms referred to in this Declaration are effectively guaranteed.
Citing Articles of the International Covenant of the Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), acceded by Bahrain on September 20, 2006, and in particular, Article 2, which states:
Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
We, thus:
1- Call upon the Bahraini Authorities to cease harassments of activists and human rights defenders, and eliminate all practices of its various organs, which are aimed at impeding the exercise of their rights and their role in the realization, protection and promotion of economic, social, cultural, civil and political Bahrain, including the introduction of those rights through the available means and mechanisms established by The United Nations and international human rights organizations.
2- call upon the Bahraini Authorities to stop activating and reforming all legislations promulgated during and post the era of the State-security measures, which confiscate the recognized basic rights and violate all norms, international covenants and treaties, including the rights of activists and defenders of rights.
3- Recognizing the important duties performed by human rights defenders, and the dangers they face, we call upon the current representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders to put Bahrain in the list of priorities and expedite the visit to Bahrain and meet with activists and defenders of rights there.
Signatories:
1. Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights.
2. Mohammed Al-Maskati, president of Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights.
3. Abduljalil Al-Singace, head of the Human Rights Office at the Movement Liberties and Democracy “HAQ”.
4. AbdulGhani Al-Khanjar, spokesman of the National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture.
5. Abbas Omran, a trade unionist and member of Bahrain Center for Human Rights.
6. Mohammed Saeed, human rights defender.
7. Layla Dashti, human rights defender.
8. Nader Al-Salatna, spokesman of the Committee of Unemployed and Underpaid and member Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights.
9. Naji Fateel, member of Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights – (Imprisoned for 5 years since December 2007).
10. Hasan Abdulnabi, the president of the Committee of Unemployed and Underpaid (Imprisoned for 7 years since December 2007).
11. Mohammed Al-Singais, Head of Committee to Combat High Prices – (Imprisoned for 5 years since December 2007).
12. Maitham Sheikh, Member of the Committee of Unemployed and Underpaid – (Imprisoned for 5years since December 2007).
13. Shaker Mohammed Abdulhussein – the Committee of Unemployed and Underpaid – Detained and under prosecution since April 2008).
14. Hassan Kathom Ebrahim Ahmed – Member of the Committee of Unemployed
and Underpaid work – (Detained and under prosecution since April 2008).
15. Sadeq Jawad Al-Fardan – Member of the Committee of the Committee of Unemployed and Underpaid – (Detained and under prosecution since April 2008).
16. Ali Mohamed Habib Ashoor – Committee for the Defense of the Detainees – (Detained and under prosecution since April 2008).
17. Habib Mohammed Habib Ashoor – Committee for the Defense of the Detainees – (Detained and under prosecution since April 2008).
18. Sayed Omran Hameed Adnan – member of the Committee Against 1% – (Detained and under prosecution since April 2008).
19. Fadhel Abbas Mohamed Ashoor – member of the Committee to Combat High Prices – (Detained and under prosecution since April 2008)