The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday announced its candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council membership for the years 2019-2021 at a conference held at the ministry headquarters.

The conference aimed at highlighting the Kingdom’s efforts and achievements to protect human rights in the presence of the ambassadors of Arab States to the Kingdom. Moreover, the Kingdom’s candidacy came after the endorsement of Asia Pacific Group (APG) along with the support of Arab states at the ministerial level. Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdulla Al Doseri gave a detailed explanation on Bahrain’s candidacy for the membership.

He also highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts and achievements, its candidacy programme and the voluntary pledges it submitted for the membership of the Council in order to protect and promote human rights regionally and internationally. Theminister also pointed out that it is time to work at the multilateral level, to share Bahrain’s experiences and initiatives in the development and promotion of human rights as well as its national mechanisms and achievements in order to reach a long-term partnership to promote such initiatives and values internationally.

Mr Al Doseri affirmed that the law and constitution of the Kingdom are based on respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms to contribute to the development of human rights in Bahrain. He added that this leads to achieving civilizational, economic, cultural and social development. He also referred to the pioneering civilizational initiatives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, most important of which is the promotion of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among people regardless of their faith.