The Committee on the Rights of the Child issues its final report on the rights of the child in the Kingdom

12-02-2020

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child commended the combined fourth to sixth periodic reports of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the protection of children's rights, noting and welcoming the progress made by the Kingdom in various areas, particularly the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2011. In this context, it appreciated the legislative and institutional measures to implement the Convention, particularly with regard to the issuance of the Child Law in 2012, the Family Law in 2017, the National Strategy for Childhood 2013–2017, which was extended for a subsequent five‑year period, the National Youth Strategy, and the establishment of the National Institution for Human Rights in 2014. At the same time, it welcomed the increased budgetary resources allocated to the National Committee for Childhood to implement all requirements to guarantee children's rights, and the adoption of various measures to promote the rights of children with disabilities, as well as the significant progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of health and education. This was set out in the report of the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), following the Committee’s 80th session, during which the Kingdom of Bahrain’s executive measures to ensure the protection of children and the preservation of their rights were discussed, as set out in the Kingdom’s combined fourth‑to‑sixth periodic report, during the period from 18–21 January 2019, in Geneva, in accordance with Article 44 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the Kingdom of Bahrain ratified in 1992. The Kingdom of Bahrain participated with a delegation headed by His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Chairman of the National Committee for Childhood, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, and including the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Abdullah bin Faisal bin Jabr Al Dosari, and the Head of the Permanent Bahraini Diplomatic Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ambassador Dr Yousef Abdulkarim Bucheeri, together with senior officials from a number of ministries and official bodies concerned with children’s rights, namely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf, the Supreme Council for Women, the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, in addition to the Ministry of Labour and Social Development. In its concluding report, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child commended the high‑level and co‑operative dialogue that took place during the discussions between the Kingdom’s delegation and the Chair and members of the Committee. It noted the prompt and reliable response to all the questions and enquiries posed by the Committee members to the Bahraini delegation, which contributed to presenting a clear picture of the reality of children’s rights in Bahrain. The Committee expressed its appreciation for the level of representation in the Bahraini delegation, which included representatives of most of the official bodies and organisations concerned with children’s rights and ensuring their care, protection and development, which led to a rich discussion and effective answers to all the enquiries raised. The Committee also commended the establishment of the Supreme Committee for the Care of Persons with Disabilities and the adoption of the National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities and the National Strategy for Special Education, stressing the need to continue promoting a human rights‑based approach to disability. On this occasion, His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Chairman of the National Committee for Childhood, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, extended his sincere congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the country's great King, may God protect and preserve him, on this great achievement, and on the praise of the Committee on the Rights of the Child for the legislative, executive and human rights measures taken to achieve the best reality for children’s rights, which contributed to raising the name of Bahrain high, and placing it among the ranks of countries committed to protecting human rights, and children’s rights in particular, which was achieved thanks to the directives of the King and his generous support for all measures aimed at achieving these goals, in light of the progress of His Majesty’s comprehensive reform project. He stressed at the same time that the remarkable progress achieved by the Kingdom in protecting and preserving children’s rights would not have been achieved but for the full support received by all parties concerned with childhood affairs from His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and the support and tireless efforts of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister, may God protect them. May God bless them and protect them, and their full support for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and their absolute belief in preserving the rights of the child, protecting him and raising him in the desired manner. In a related context, Humaidan stressed that the recent praise of the Committee on the Rights of the Child for what has been achieved in Bahrain regarding family protection, specifically the issuance of the Family Law, which has guaranteed the stability of the family and, consequently, its ability to raise promising children and achieve a safe childhood, would not have been achieved without the full support and great care of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, may God protect her, who has pushed with all diligence to achieve these goals and work to protect the family at all levels and by all means and methods. He also noted the role of the Royal Charity Organisation in caring for and protecting orphans and widows, which had a profound impact in attracting the attention of members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and praising what has been achieved in this regard. The periodic report, which the Kingdom of Bahrain presented during its review and discussion sessions at the 80th session meetings of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, indicated Bahrain’s keenness to provide high‑quality health care and services to all children without discrimination, as many achievements were made at the health level, such as reducing the mortality rate of children under five years of age, and reducing the rate of maternal deaths during childbirth, by providing high‑quality health services in accordance with the standards and recommendations of the World Health Organisation. The report also included indicators confirming the Kingdom's interest in ensuring that all children of both sexes enjoy their right to free, advanced education. Children with disabilities also received significant attention, embodied in the implementation of policies, legislation and programmes that promote the health, development, protection, participation and integration of children with disabilities into public life without any discrimination between them and their peers. The report also included ensuring the free care, education and rehabilitation of children with disabilities, and providing them with all the social, psychological, medical, educational and vocational services that enable them to integrate into society with ease and convenience. In the latest achievement in ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities, the Kingdom of Bahrain has approved a decision by the Council of Ministers granting employees or workers with severe disabilities, or those caring for a person or child with severe disabilities who requires special care from their first‑degree relatives, two hours of paid rest per day. To achieve the goals of protecting and caring for children and safeguarding their rights, the Kingdom of Bahrain pays great attention to the family, considering it the first fundamental building block in the sound social upbringing of children. Those about to get married are provided with the basic concepts of married life, and are provided with daily family reconciliation and guidance services. Family disputes are settled and avoided before resorting to the courts. This is achieved through cooperation between public and private sector institutions in the field of family guidance and reconciliation, creating an integrated electronic system that contributes to the protection of families and children. This is in addition to the great attention given to children of unknown parentage and children from broken families, who are provided with all aspects of integrated social, educational, psychological, health and living care within the framework of partnership and social responsibility between the public and private sectors. The Kingdom of Bahrain is also keen, as stated in its periodic report, to issue a Restorative Justice Law, through the approved legislative instruments, and within the framework of measures aimed at harmonising Bahraini law with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Kingdom of Bahrain has been keen to develop and update its legislative system related to children and juveniles to be consistent with all national laws and international instruments to which the Kingdom of Bahrain is a party, by embedding them in a unified draft law called the “Restorative Justice Law,” which is currently under study in preparation for its presentation and issuance through the legislative instrument stipulated in the Constitution. The Kingdom of Bahrain has taken pioneering steps in the field of child protection and care through a number of initiatives and procedures, most notably the establishment of the Child Protection Centre and the Child Helpline (998), to receive reports of any child being subjected to abuse, physical or psychological harm, neglect, or sexual assault, to deal with these reports as required and provide guidance and referral services to the relevant authorities if necessary, in addition to the formation of a juvenile court in which the child’s privacy has been taken into account, in a location separate from the rest of the courts with the aim of instilling reassurance in the soul of the juvenile child, in a manner appropriate to the age group before it. Bahrain's achievements in protecting children's rights, including legislative and executive measures, as well as the launch of various initiatives, have borne positive and clear fruit, as evidenced by the commendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which was held at the Committee's headquarters in Geneva in January 2019. This conference was the culmination of Bahrain's tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to child protection and international treaties. The Committee on the Rights of the Child issued some recommendations in its concluding observations report, stressing the need to continue to implement children's rights in accordance with the Convention and its Optional Protocols at all stages of the implementation process of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while ensuring the continued effective participation of children in the design and implementation of policies and programmes aimed at achieving all 17 goals with regard to children. The Committee also recommended the need to continue strengthening efforts to provide capacity building and ongoing training for professional groups working with and for children, including parliamentarians, judges, lawyers, law enforcement officials, health personnel, teachers, social workers, media workers, and employees of relevant ministries. These recommendations are fully consistent with the Kingdom’s future directions to continue and strengthen procedures and measures to safeguard children’s rights within the framework of the Action Plan and follow‑up on the implementation of the National Strategy for Childhood, and to continue following up on all international initiatives, efforts, and expertise, within the framework of close co‑operation with the governmental and non-governmental sectors in the Kingdom.