Bahrain’s Ministry of Human Rights and Social Development (MHRSD) said that it was disappointed by the picture painted by the Amnesty International (AI) with regard to exploitation of children.
In a statement MHRSD regretted that AI had not condemned the exploitation of children by political groups, the use of children in protests for political gains or as human shields, which is a contradiction to the basic principles of the Convention on the Right of the Child which Bahrain has ratified.
The MHRSD encourages AI to denounce the exploitation of children by political groups through the direct involvement in violent protests where the basic human rights for Bahraini children are being violated.
MHRSD has published several reports regarding the exploitation of children by demonstrators since 14 February 2011. These reports pointed out the incidents of acts directly endangering children’s lives, interrupting their education, and putting them in the forefront of demonstrations, that could subject them to eminent dangers.
The Ministry of Human Rights and Social Development assured that it would continue to cooperate with Amnesty International for the promotion and protection of human rights at all times.