On 30 September 2020, ADHRB has delivered an oral intervention at the United Nation Human Rights Council session 45 during interactive debate under item 6.
Madam president,
We would like to raise our concerns about the implementation of the UPR recommendations by Bahrain, 3 years after its 3rd cycle.
The government of Bahrain has long placed undue restrictions upon freedoms of expression, association, and assembly and these restrictions worsened throughout the years. Although Bahrain supportedthe recommendations made on these rights, it continues to perpetrate its policy of restrictions. Political opposition members are still targeted by the government and continue to suffer mistreatments. Additionally, in May 2019, authorities passed a new more draconian law designed to further restrict freedom of expression.
Furthermore, the Bahraini government has consistently used the death penalty against political activists and members of the opposition. As we sit here today, there are 26 people facing execution in Bahrain, 12 of whom are political prisoners who have exhausted all legal remedies and now face imminent execution.Just last month, Bahrain’s Court of Cassation upheld sentences against torture victims Mohamed Ramadhan and Husain Muusa. This situation is clearly contrary to the UPRrecommendations supported by Bahrain.
As a member state of the Council, Bahrain should achieve a higher human rights standard respecting and implementingall UPR recommendations. The UPR is a key process for the implementation of Human rights in all the countries. We thus call upon Bahrain to immediately implement its UPR recommendations, and stop violating fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and assembly.
Thank you
