Foreign ministry holds coordination meeting

Manama, June3 (BNA): The Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabur Al-Doseri, held a coordination meeting at the Ministry's General Court, with all governmental and official bodies concerned with preparing the report of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The report will be presented and discussed before the Human Rights Committee at the United Nations in Geneva on 3 and 4 July this year as part of the Kingdom's accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 2006 and the Kingdom's commitment to submit a voluntary report in this regard.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prepared the first periodic report of the Kingdom in coordination and cooperation with the concerned authorities in the country, taking into account the views and proposals of representatives of civil society, which the Kingdom is keen to meet and consult with. The Assistant Foreign Minister met with all the relative human rights organizations and viewed with them of a copy of the draft report before its submission.  The report pointed out that the infrastructure of civil and political rights and legislations was based to ensure the best practices of these rights. It also noted that the process of development of the political system was transparent and credible between the leadership and the people through the proper frameworks of democratic practices that emphasize respect for sovereignty, guaranteeing rights and freedoms, emphasizing the importance of public participation and national unity, freedom of opinion and expression and religious freedoms, as well as ensuring equality and non-discrimination.  The Assistant Foreign Minister affirmed that the reform approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has resulted in pioneering achievements in the fields of democracy, guaranteeing public rights and freedoms, and human, political, economic and social development in various fields, including education and health and media.  The Assistant Foreign Minister affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain is continuing to achieve the desired progress and that national efforts are continuing to raise awareness of human rights, including the culture of democracy, education on citizenship and human rights, with the cooperation of educational, cultural and media bodies, relative national institutions and civil society.  He also asserted that the rule of law and the integrity and independence of the judiciary are the basis of governance in the Kingdom of Bahrain, noting that the Constitution and laws of the Kingdom guarantee fair trial in accordance with international standards, adding that the government’s action plan works towards achieving more development and prosperity for the Kingdom.  The meeting was attended by a number of officials in the Ministry of Labor and Social Development - Ministry of Interior - Ministry of Information Affairs - Public Prosecution - Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission - Supreme Council for Women - Ombudsman.