Human rights issues in the spotlight

GULF Centre for Strategic Studies (GCSS) president Dr Omar Al Hassan hosted a working dinner in honour of Minister of State for Human Rights Affairs Dr Salah Ali on the sidelines of a Regional Governance Week conference.

The forum entitled "Social Accountability in a Changing Region - Actors and Mechanisms" was held in Cairo, Egypt.

The Minister met officials of several human rights organisations, ambassadors, Egyptian Foreign Ministry and Arab League officials and members of local and international media.

He hailed Egypt's remarkable role and honourable stances on Arab and Islamic issues as well as its support during the recent incidents in Bahrain.

He reviewed the kingdom's achievements since His Majesty King Hamad's accession to the throne, pointing out fast-paced reforms since the launch of the royal reform project.

He said: "The democratic process needs enough time to pay off," pointing out that a misled group had tried to take advantage of what had happened in some Arab countries, without heeding the fact that the situation in Bahrain is entirely different.

He pointed out people's support to the leadership in Bahrain, which enjoys a stable political system. "The Bahraini people are aware of what that extremist group is plotting after it has become clear that it has a special foreign agenda that has nothing to do with reform or democracy," he explained

The Minister commended the role of the GCC countries in the wake of the crisis in Bahrain. This, he noted, is legally justified by a joint defence agreement signed by the GCC countries to deter foreign threats to member states.

He said that the situation is improving in Bahrain thanks to the wisdom of the leadership, the vigilance of the government, awareness of the patriotic people and support of the GCC and Arab countries.

"Violence is categorically rejected and sovereignty is to the rule of law," he said. However, there are some parties that are not willing to end the crisis despite the government's repeated calls for an all-inclusive national dialogue, he said.

Dr Ali also underlined Bahrain's positive response to the UN Human Rights Council, pointing out the kingdom's achievements and efforts to carry out recommendations since the first Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2008 and the second one in May 2012.

He informed the audience on a prospective visit by a technical delegation from the High Commission of Human Rights from December 2 to 6 to assess Bahrain's human rights needs and work out schemes to implement them.

(2012-12-1/gulf-daily-news)