SALAM DHR: The Bahraini government is required to implement the recommendations of the universal periodic review (UPR)

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day

SALAM DHR: The Bahraini government is required to implement the recommendations of the universal periodic review (UPR)

On December 10 of each year, the world celebrates Human Rights Day as a commemoration of the adoption by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, through which the basic principles of citizenship rights protection were enshrined in international and domestic laws. The day highlights the importance of this declaration in highlighting the most basic rights that must be preserved and protected to guarantee the freedom and dignity of peoples without any discrimination, “such as discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national or social origin, wealth or birth.” or any other status, without any distinction between men and women” as stipulated in Article 2 thereof.

However, in Bahrain, we cannot celebrate this day in light of the continued violation of most of the articles and rules of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, where all opposition parties and a number of civil society institutions were dissolved, and the political and civil rights of many citizens in the country were banned by preventing them from exercising their right to vote, and run for office; and enrolment in general elections; as well as membership in the boards of directors of civil society institutions, sports and cultural clubs, and charities. In terms of freedom of opinion and expression, a policy of harassing and repressing activists and human rights defenders is still being adopted through malicious summons, sham trials, and the arrest of participants in peaceful marches. We are still monitoring and documenting medical negligence and various types of physical and psychological torture of prisoners in general and prisoners of conscience behind unjust bars, in particular.

On the occasion of this day, SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights (SALAM DHR) initiates the opportunity to request the Government of Bahrain to adopt and implement the recommendations of other states in the last Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which took place last November in Human Rights Council in Geneva, and to respect the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, especially in:

• Respect for freedom of opinion and expression, the political right, and the formation of human rights and political associations.
• The release of all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners unjustly detained, and accountability of the aggressors and those responsible for torture in prison and during investigations.
• An official moratorium on executions with the aim of abolishing the death penalty.