A/HRC/21/6 allegations of torture, arbitrary detention as well as the harassment of journalists. Austria made recommendations. 44. Azerbaijan commended the measures taken to combat human trafficking and commended the Government for establishing a unit to combat trafficking in persons in the Ministry of Interior. It also commended Bahrain’s cooperation with United Nations human rights mechanisms. Azerbaijan noted the measures taken by Bahrain to improve housing conditions for workers. It made recommendations. 45. The head of the delegation clarified that all of BICI’s recommendations had been accepted, that a special committee had been formed to implement such recommendations, and that the Minister of Justice has been tasked with following up the implementations. Additionally, some of the recommendations require some legislative amendments. The head of the delegation reiterated that no one has been detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression and opinion. In additional, all charges related to the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and opinion had been dropped, and those persons currently being prosecuted had committed criminal offences. The Government could not interfere in the independence of the judiciary. 46. The delegation stated that the Government had not used excessive force, but rather proportionate and necessary force to restore the situation to normal, similar to what other nations do to control similar situations. 47. The delegation stated that the Child Law is currently at the final stage of the legislation process. It clarified several issues related to the integration of persons with disabilities in Government schools and recalled that Bahrain had ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Government has developing a strategy to fully integrate persons with disabilities into the society. It stated that the Ministry of Education accommodates all pupils and students, boys and girls, with disabilities or having special needs, and provided them with equal opportunities to participate in school and university. 48. The delegation explained that the Reform and Rehabilitation Law currently with the legislative authority included a number of provisions concerning human rights standards and international agreements. 49. The delegation stated that the Ministry of Education has introduced a special curriculum for national education, which includes human rights. Based on Bahrain’s commitment further to the 2008 review, a strategic plan was developed to educate students on human rights. The curriculum also includes the rights enshrined in the human rights treaties. 50. The head of the delegation stated that there were 2,339 places of worship for Muslims. Another 12 have been built or are under construction and the construction of 20 more is being studied. 51. The delegation expressed thanks to the expat community for its cooperation in the economic development of the country 52. Concerning female domestic workers, the delegation stated that Bahrain had enacted a law to protect the rights of this category of workers. The law should be officially adopted in the near future and covers the rights of seven categories of women workers. 53. The delegation stated that once Bahrain had ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, it had also made amendments to national legislation accordingly, as long as they were not contrary to Islamic law. A National Committee was formed to follow up the implementation of the national model to integrate women’s needs into the Government's programme. The Supreme Council for Women ensured broad dissemination of the contents of the Convention and conducted 8

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