By submitting a report SALAM DHR Participates in Bahrain's review with the 123rd session of the UN's Human Rights Committee ICCPR

The Human Rights Committee is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) by its State parties.

At its 123rd session, the Human Rights Committee will review the State reports of Algeria, Bahrain, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lithuania and Liberia. The 123rd session of the Human Rights Committee will take place in Geneva, Palais Wilson, from 2 to 27 July 2018. Yet, it is worth mentioning that Bahrain’s state report is going to be reviewed on the 2nd and 3rd of July by the same committee.

Bahrain ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention against Torture, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Despite its ratification of the international treaties and commitment to defend human rights, the brutal human rights abuses have been continuously reported.

A worrying new set of methods repressing the human rights of its own people have come into practice. The government continued to curtail freedoms of expression, association and assembly through various unlawful measures, and banning political opposition societies and denial of basic civil and political rights of their leaders and members. By revoking nationality of 738 Bahrainis, the government has been wielding citizenship as a weapon of control and oppression. It has also criminalised freedom of assembly and expression by implementing unnecessary restraints and inappropriate regulations on peaceful assembly. A number of detainees have been physically assaulted by staffs who had not given any proper training on the lawful use of force. The security apparatus also has continued to use torture to extract false confessions. Children have been no exception from becoming victims of human rights abuses. Security forces have routinely detained children without clear charges, which often results in ill-treatment on a serious level.

“We in SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights have submitted our report (DOWNLOAD AND READ) to the committee and are taking part in both formal and informal briefing with the committee on Monday and Tuesday of this week.” Says Asma Darwish, SALAM DHR Head of International Relations.

The report shed light on Bahrain’s lack of commitment in respecting the civil and political rights of its citizens and discuss these violations providing numbers, figures and facts. As investigated, despite Bahrain’s ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), there has been no meaningful compliance with the most of its Articles. The government of Bahrain have increased restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, association and religion of its citizens, targeting whoever raise their voices against the government to any degree. The arbitrary measures of the authorities have resulted in numerous victims of torture, travel ban, revocation of citizenship, and death penalty. Therefore, SALAM DHR calls through its engagement with the Human Rights Committee to the continued support, encouragement and pressure to ensure Bahrain implements the legal and policy changes for the real promotion and protection of all human rights for all people in Bahrain, complying with the international norms and standards, including the ICCPR.

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