Cabinet hails Bahrain’s human rights strides

Manama, Mar. 19 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has lauded the great human rights achievements and gains attained by the Kingdom during His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's prosperous era. Chairing the regular weekly Cabinet session, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, at the Gudaibiya Palace today, HRH Premier affirmed the government’s resolve to carry on consolidating the rights gains, and to build on them through respecting human rights, preserving human dignity and ensuring freedom. The Prime Minister, marking the celebration of the Arab Human Rights Day, recalled with pride HM King Hamad’s initiatives in the field of human rights, most notably the royal initiative to establish an Arab Court for Human Rights, a proposal that has gained Arab support and global acclaim, a statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said. The session approved the ratification of the statute of the Economic Judiciary Commission (EJC), adopted by the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in line with the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and referred a draft-law on its ratification to the Legislative Branch. EJC will examine cases arising from the implementation of the provisions of the GCC Unified Economic Agreement or the resolutions issued pursuant to its provisions. The Cabinet endorsed a draft agreement between Bahrain and Switzerland on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital, and the protocol annexed to it, and mandated the Minister of Finance to sign it on behalf of the Kingdom ahead of the constitutional procedures. The session also approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Bahrain’s Ministry of Health and India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and commissioned the Minister of Finance to sign it on behalf of the Kingdom. The session discussed the re-organisation of the Customs Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, and referred the memorandum by the Interior Minister in this regard to the Civil Service Council. The Cabinet approved the government's reply to a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives regarding the treatment of the Hajjiyat residents at the Hamad Kanoo Health Centre in East Riffa. The session reviewed a report by the Minister of Education on awarding of the UNESCO King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education at the UNESCO’s premises in Paris recently. It also took note, through a report by the Minister of Labour and Social Development, of the results of the meeting of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation, held recently in Geneva.