Reform Project praised by Arab lawyers

Manama, July 30 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s Reform Project has paved the way for consolidating democracy and political participation, strengthening the state of law and institutions, increasing the level of political awareness among members of the Bahraini society and promoted the democracy culture which has earned the kingdom the constant praise of the International Community, a report issued by the Arab Lawyers’ Union (ALU) has revealed. The report was presented during the meeting of ALU’s permanent office, held in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh from July 21 to 23 under the patronage of the Egyptian Prime Minister, Sherif Ismail. President of the Bahrain Bar Society, Huda Rashid Al Mahza'a, and Deputy President, Abdulrahman Ghunaim, represented the kingdom at the meeting. Huda Rashid Al Mahza'a stressed that the recommendation of ALU’s meeting should highlight the efforts that led the National Consensus in Bahrain, the success of the experience of the civil society as an essential partner in the development process, as well as the efforts exerted within the National Dialogue to develop public freedoms in the kingdom. She affirmed the importance of the ALU’s report in projecting the real and correct image of the situation in Bahrain to the International Community, noting that the recommendations stressed the importance of the National Dialogue process as well as the importance of the continuous follow up on its results by all parties to ensure its success. The report indicated that the royal Reform Project represented a new beginning towards the consolidation of the democratic atmosphere and political participation, strengthening of the state of law and institutions, developed the level of political awareness among the citizens and promoted the democracy culture in the kingdom. The report lauded the "positive" developments witnessed by the kingdom since HM King Hamad’s Accession to the Throne, particularly in the political field, explaining that the Bahraini citizens have become more aware of the importance of political participation and proved their ability to exercise their role in the political process responsibly. February 14 and 15, 2011 was a national epic, and represents a milestone in Bahrain’s modern history as all segments of the Bahraini people rallied together behind their leader and asserted their loyalty to the nation and keenness on ensuring a better future for the coming generation, the report said, highlighting the major democratic and political steps taken by the kingdom recently, including HM the King’s ratification of the constitutional amendments resulting from the National Dialogue of 2011. The amendments enhanced the role of the Legislative Branch, re-organised the relationship between the Executive and Legislature to ensure more balance and granted more powers to the elected Council of Representatives. HM King Hamad also ordered the establishment of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), under the chairmanship of Professor Seherif Bassiouni, following the 2011 events. The independent panel submitted its report to HM the King Hamad. Subsequently, the government implemented all recommendations, including the establishment of a Special Investigation Unit (SIU) on 27/2/2012, which is a fully independent entity within the Public Prosecution. The panel investigates into allegations of torture and cruel and degrading treatment according to the international standards set in the Istanbul Protocol, the Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The report affirmed that the SIU had investigated into claims of deaths, torture and cruel treatment that allegedly took place during the 2011 events, and referred 43 cases to the competent courts. The report confirmed that the kingdom’s constitution had guaranteed all rights and public freedoms, noting that the national legislations and executive procedures had been developed in 2014 and 2015 in accordance with the best international standards in all fields, including the protection of human rights, as well as civil, political, social and cultural freedoms, fostering the freedoms of opinion and expression, respect for religious, sectarian and cultural freedom and diversity and the activation of the human rights institutions and bodies. The report also highlighted the formation of the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission (PDRC), headed by the Interior Ministry’s Ombudsman, the issuance of the Royal Decree on establishing the Bahrain National Committee for the International Humanitarian Law, the establishment of the SIU to ensure fair trials, the activation of the role of the high coordination committee for human right, the National Institution for Human Rights and the hosting of an international conference to follow up on the implementation of HM the King’s initiative to set up an Arab Court for Human Rights. On press, the report highlighted the choice of the kingdom to host the International Federation of Journalists, adding that most reports issued by international organisations have praised the developments witnessed by Bahrain regarding press freedom. On women, the report said HM King Hamad had issued Order 44/2001 on establishing the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and President of the SCW, to be the official institution that is in charge of all Bahraini women’s issues. It shed light on the kingdom’s landmark achievements of the Bahraini women in all fields. Moreover, the kingdom’s success in fighting terrorism and combating its funding has also been lauded by the ALU’s report which asserted that Bahrain has taken the best decisions to prevent terrorists from receiving funds, citing the fund-raising regulations. The report also affirmed Bahrain’s keenness to ensure balance between human rights protection and the reinforcement of security and stability while confronting acts of violence, extremism and terrorism which claimed the lives of several on-duty policemen. In this regard, it said that Bahrain was the first Arab country and the sixth in the world in the "Most Secure Country" Index according to a survey conducted by an international institution in 2014. The report issued by the Arab Lawyers Union also lauded His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa’s issuance of an edict on establishing a committee to combat hatred and sectarianism, noting that the move aims to cement national unity and foster tolerance and co-existence among the citizens and residents. The report highlighted the importance of the National Dialogue and the efforts exerted by the leadership in consolidating it, stressing that it is the best way to ensure a better political and democratic future for the kingdom. The Arab Lawyers Union called on all parties to deal positively and constructively with HM the King’s initiatives aiming to develop the democratic experience.