A/HRC/36/3
Introduction
1.
The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance
with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-seventh session from 1 to 12
May 2017. The review of Bahrain was held at the 1st meeting, on 1 May 2017. The
delegation of Bahrain was headed by the Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdulla bin Faisal
Aldoseri. At its 10th meeting, held on 5 May 2017, the Working Group adopted the report
on Bahrain.
2.
On 13 February 2017, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of
rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Bahrain: Cuba, Ghana and Japan.
3.
In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution
5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents
were issued for the review of Bahrain:
(a)
A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with
paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/27/BHR/1);
(b)
A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b)
(A/HRC/WG.6/27/BHR/2 and Corr.1);
(c)
A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c)
(A/HRC/WG.6/27/BHR/3).
4.
A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Mexico, the
Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Bahrain through the
troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review.
I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process
A.
Presentation by the State under review
5.
The head of the delegation informed the Human Rights Council that the universal
periodic review provided a chance to highlight the achievements of the kingdom in
advancing the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to
development. Those rights were realized in the framework of a reform-based approach
pursued by the king.
6.
The Government had dealt positively and responsibly with the recommendations
made in May 2012, during the second-cycle review of the kingdom. Of those
recommendations, 145 had enjoyed the kingdom’s full support.
7.
On
6
April
2017,
OHCHR
had
issued
a
corrigendum
(A/HRC/WG.6/27/BHR/2/Corr.1) to the compilation on Bahrain — five weeks after the
issuance of the original document. The compilation had included false information, some of
which had been attributed to United Nations agencies and bodies. However, that
information had not correctly reflected the kingdom’s achievements and developments.
Among those achievements was the success of the national dialogue that had led to
agreement on basic proposals for constitutional amendments aimed at enhancing the
competence of the legislative authority.
8.
The public had been informed about the upcoming universal periodic review, and
the national report had been prepared in consultation with civil society and the national
human rights institution.
9.
Law No. 52 of 2012 had amended some penal code provisions, including the
definition of torture in articles 208 and 232, which had been revised in a manner that legally
protected human dignity. The Law stipulated that crimes of torture were not subject to the
statute of limitations, which affirmed that impunity did not exist in Bahrain. Legislative
2
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents