Human Rights Affairs Minister Dr. Salah bin Ali Abdulrahman met with representatives of human rights associations in Bahrain.
Dr. Salah welcomed those present and thanked them for accepting his invitation to the meeting.
He hailed the crucial role played by human rights associations in increasing people’s awareness on need to promote the cultures of human rights and dignity protection and reinforcing the state of law and institutions.
The minister informed the attendees on the on-going national consultations to restructure the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), stressing that all sides are required to assume their national responsibilities in order to achieve the aspirations of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to make NIHR a human rights beacon and thank tank and allow it to play a more effective role as an independent body as required by t eh Paris Principles.
He added that the Royal Decree to re-organise NIRH was issued in line with the visions of the National Consensus Dialogue represents its new beginning, since it provided it with guarantors that reinforce its independence, pledging that the Human Rights Affairs Ministry will provide it with every support needed and coordinate with it to promote the human rights culture among university students, youths and members of the society.
He also requested those present to submit their proposals on NIHR’s work, role and the mechanism to be adopted in choosing its members, adding that their visions will be taken into account.
The Bahrain Human Rights Society, Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society, Migrant Workers Protection Society, Bahrain Human Rights Monitor, Karama Society for Human Rights and the Bahrain Jurists Society attended the meeting, while the Manama Human Rights Centre and the Bahraini Society for Public Liberties and Promotion of Democracy were absent.