Kingdom of Bahrain

The Bahrain Institute of Public Administration (BIPA) held a seminar to launch the E-training Pilot Phase in collaboration with UNDP. Eight government Ministries have participated in this phase in which two courses will be piloted, with a total of 113 participants.

Mr. Sayed Aqa, UNDP Resident Representative, attended the launch of Manama Charity Fund’s Ashoora 2009 Activities. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Mr. Aqa stressed on the significance of focusing on linkages between religious duties and the promotion of human development and protection of the environment. He pointed out that “Fulfilling our religious duties to make this world a better place for all does not mean that we have to be concerned only about own wellbeing, but to make life better for others through good work and sacrifice. He concluded that “supporting such events is part of UNDP’s continued commitment to encourage and enhance the development and human rights efforts of national NGOs.”
These series of activities are partially funded by UNDP and aim to highlight the following issues: (a) Environment sustainability - raising awareness about the effects of pollution, climate change and solid waste management (b) Community based health initiatives - free medical checkups and medicine management, and (c) Human rights issues – linking the human rights declaration with religious goals for all individuals irrespective of color, creed and socio-economic background.

UNDP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs marked Human Rights Day 2009, the 61st anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by stressing the enduring need to eliminate all forms of discrimination. The event was attended by the UN Country Team, government officials, ambassadors, MPs, media, and representatives of national NGOs.
“No country is free of discrimination,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message for the Day whose theme this year is ‘Embrace Diversity, End Discrimination.’ “Discrimination targets individuals and groups that are vulnerable to attack: the disabled, women and girls, the poor, migrants, minorities, and all those who are perceived as different,” he said, pledging UN commitment to fight inequality and intolerance wherever they are found.
In Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay deplored the fact that discrimination is still rampant 61 years after the Declaration’s adoption. “Women work two-thirds of the world’s working hours and produce half of the world’s food, yet earn only 10 per cent of the world’s income and own less than one per cent of the world’s property,” she said.
Speaking at the event in Bahrain, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr. Nezar Al Baharna, outlined Bahrain’s recent achievements and efforts in human rights since undergoing its Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council in 2008. “We have achieved many of our goals such as establishing the National Institution for Human Rights, and enacting the Family, Labour, and Press laws” he said.
Sayed Aqa, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator thanked the Government and the UPR Steering Committee for their relentless efforts and dedication to implementing Bahrain’s voluntary UPR commitments. He added “I congratulate the people and Government of Bahrain for their commitment to promote, protect and realize the human rights of all individuals in the country.” The starting point for addressing any challenge is to define the challenge and record its existence elaborated Mr. Aqa. “In Bahrain, key human rights challenges were detailed in the UPR Reports of both the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and NGOs and concrete legislative and executive steps have been taken to address these challenges. Challenges, indeed, remain that require continued commitment and more practical actions to fulfil legally binding commitments, but more importantly it requires our moral responsibility – on the part of all of us as individual human beings towards each other.”
Bahrain Human Rights Society President, Dr. Abdulla Al Derazi encouraged all to consider “What we have achieved in human rights, where we are, and where we are heading” while praising the significant achievements in recent years. Atiyatallah Rohani gave a statement on behalf of Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society in which he lauded the initiatives undertaken by H.M. the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in protecting, promoting and respecting human rights.