The Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabur Al Doseri, affirmed that respect for the human rights and political, civil, economic, cultural and social freedoms, and the preservation of dignity, constitute a fundamental pillar in the consolidation of the state of law, justice and peaceful coexistence among all components of Bahraini society in light of the reform, civilization and developmental approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.On the occasion of the submission of Bahrain's voluntary mid-term national report to the UN Human Rights Council within the universal periodic review mechanism, Al Doseri pointed out that the Kingdom has attained pioneering achievements since the launch of the National Action Charter in 2001 in a historic referendum with the approval of 98.4%, and the establishment of a responsible democratic action under the constitutional monarchy and ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens without discrimination on grounds of race, origin, religion or creed.

 He also expressed his pride in presenting this report in conjunction with the inauguration of His Majesty the King for the second session of the fifth legislative term of the Shura and Representatives Councils, and His Majesty's directives to modernize the national legislations and support the democratic and development achievements in a way that promotes human rights and freedoms and provides a decent living for all citizens. That also was only days after the success of the Government Forum in its fourth edition under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and the initiative of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa as it came up with innovative insights to continue the projects and initiatives of the Government Action Plan (2019-2022).

 The Assistant Foreign Minister explained that the midterm national report monitors progress and positive development in the Kingdom in the field of human rights and the consolidation of good governance since the adoption of its third national report in 2017, thanks to the constructive cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities, and the development of an independent judicial and human rights system to protect public rights and freedoms, in accordance with the international human rights standards in light of the Kingdom's accession to more than 30 international human rights conventions, in particular: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

 He stressed that political and civil human rights have reached advanced levels under developed legislation, an impartial and independent judiciary that guarantees justice and the rule of law and independent national human rights institutions that promote rights and freedoms, he pointed the establishment of the High Coordinating Committee for human rights and the important role it plays, the Ombudsman at the Ministry of Interior, the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission, the Ombudsman Office of the National Security Agency, the Special Investigation Unit at the Public Prosecution, the National Institute for Human Rights and other advanced mechanisms for the protection of human rights to liberty, personal security and criminal justice, and the fight against torture and degrading treatment, including the issuance of the law of alternative sanctions and measures No. 18 of 2017 to keep pace with contemporary criminal systems in the process of reform and rehabilitation, in addition to activating the role of society through 647 non-governmental and community-based organizations, including 16 political associations.

 He also noted the success of the parliamentary and municipal elections in 2018 with a high participation rate exceeding 67% of the total voters, which reflected the awareness of the Bahraini people, men and women, and their determination to exercise all their political rights for the fifth consecutive time since the return of parliamentary life in 2002, and their absolute rejection of any suspicious calls to violence, vandalism, terrorism or incitement to religious or sectarian hatred, affirming their civilized and responsible unity around the reform approach of His Majesty the King.The Assistant Foreign Minister pointed the guarantee of the economic and social rights through the provision of advanced housing, health and educational services, and the adoption of advanced legislation and programs to protect the priority care groups, such as the rights of women, children and the elderly, rehabilitation and employment of the disabled, achieving social security, the development of employment and training programs, and the protection of national and expatriate workers rights, under the Labour Law for the Private Sector No. (36) of 2012, providing a leading global experience in combating trafficking in persons under Law No. (1) of 2008, followed-up by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, and its success in reducing the unemployment rate to less than 4% while granting subsidies and compensation for unemployment insurance.He mentioned that the Kingdom of Bahrain ranks 43rd in the world and the fourth in the Arab world among countries with very high human development, according to the Human Development Report 2018, and topped the Arab list in the indicators of economic freedom and the development of communications and information technology and e-government as well as in continuing its projects to promote the public services and infrastructure within the framework of the implementation of the Government Action Plan (2019-2022), towards “sustainable economic and social security within a financial balance”, in line with the Economic Vision 2030, based on the principles of sustainability and competitive justice.

 He praised the achievements of Bahraini women in various political, economic and social fields thanks to the distinguished efforts of the Supreme Council for Women, chaired by Her Royal Highness, wife of His Majesty the King, Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, and its role in supporting the advancement of women, representing 19% of the seats in parliament, 9% of judges and 5% of the members of the Public Prosecution, and updating the legislation guaranteeing their rights, pursuant to Law No. (17) of 2015 on protection from domestic violence and the Unified Family Law No. (19) of 2017. He also noted that Bahraini women have occupied important positions, including presidency of the House of Representatives, the National Institution for Human Rights, the Association of Journalists, and many civil society organizations and private sector. 

The Assistant Foreign Minister affirmed the keenness of the Kingdom of Bahrain to strengthen partnership with the United Nations and its principal organs and specialized agencies to serve its lofty goals in maintaining regional and international peace and security, respecting human rights, supporting the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and enhancing cooperation with the OHCHR, noting that the Kingdom signed a Strategic Partnership Framework with 16 UN agencies for the years (2018-2022), which is the first of its kind in the Middle East.He acknowledged the Kingdom's implementation of its voluntary human rights commitments in cooperation with the Human Rights Council within the universal periodic review mechanism, pointing the adoption of the third national report in September 2017, support for the implementation of 139 recommendations and taking note of 36 recommendations, either because they conflict with the application of Islamic law, or incompatibility With national laws and regulations, or for further study.

 In addition to its positive cooperation with the international committees concerned with the implementation of the main human rights treaties, amid a wide international praise for their human rights achievements, and the culmination of its honourable record of eligibility for membership of the Human Rights Council for the years (2019-2022) for the third time in its history.The Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabur Al Doseri, stressed that the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, continues to consolidate its position as a leading historical and civilizational model in citizenship, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and combating extremism and terrorism. He also commended the launching of several pioneering humanitarian initiatives, the most important of which were the “Declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrain” as a global document to promote religious freedoms, the establishment of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, the King Hamad Chair for Inter-Faith Dialogue and Peaceful Co-Existence at Sapienza University, and the adoption by the United Nations of the initiative of the Prime Minister’s proclaiming the fifth of April an International Day of Conscience.