NIHR: HRW overlooks human rights progress in Bahrain

Manama, Nov 25 (BNA): National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) has considered the report recently issued by Human Rights Watch (HRW) about the human rights situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Although the report mentions the NIHR's role in promoting and protecting human rights, and the reforms carried out by the Kingdom of Bahrain over the past years, and its efforts to improve the human rights situation through the establishment of a number of institutions related to human rights, including the Ombudsman Office, Special Investigation Unit, Commission on Prisoners and Detainees' Rights, NIHR, in addition to the issuance of national legislatives related to human rights and changes and amendments entered to conform with international human rights agreements. But the report neglects the role and efforts made by the same institutions and the positive results attained in the area of improving the human rights situation, despite the recent formation of them, they have faced a lack of cooperation with some international organizations, which only offer negative criticism and have scarcely given credit to the serious efforts made in bolstering human rights in the country, on top of that they constantly recall previous incidents. It is clearly noticed in the Human Rights Watch's call on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to terminate cooperation with the Kingdom of Bahrain and to stop the cooperation program and technical support, which is an unexplainable and negative call that does not serve the development of human rights defenders' capacities. It is also in violation of the international duty shouldered by human rights organizations. At the same time, the NIHR intensifies efforts to implement the program, which will be of a great impact on bolstering and protecting human rights in Bahrain. The NIHR stresses that it regularly follows up complaints and claims relating to human rights violations, whether directly submitted to it or those observed by it. It also directly communicates and cooperates with government authorities and institutions concerned under Law No. (26/2014) on their formation. It highly appreciates cooperation with them for building cadres trained on respecting human rights. NIHR welcomes the collective efforts made by the institutions to improve the services and conditions of prisoners of reform and rehabilitation centers. It also appreciates the Special Investigation Unit's action of referring a number of Interior Ministry's personnel for investigation after the death incident of an inmate of Reform and Rehabilitation Center, as well as initiating investigation into ill-treatment allegations of other inmates a few days ago. The NIHR will communicate with Human Rights Watch with respect to the positive development which have been overlooked in its report.