National Commission Participates in Workshop on National Human Rights Institutions' Accreditation
Manama, September 9th - A delegation from the National Commission for Human Rights, led by H.E. Maqsoud Cruz, participated in a dialogue workshop on "The Accreditation of National Human Rights Institutions within the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions." The workshop, hosted in Manama and organized by the General Secretariat of the Arab Network for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Bahrain National Institution for Human Rights.
The workshop's main goal was to refine the knowledge and expertise of participating national institutions concerning the accreditation process, as well as the responsibilities of the accreditation committee and its decision-making mechanisms. Additionally, it shed light on the general observations of the sub-accreditation committee, with a focus on telephone interviews, appeals, and follow-up recommendations. The workshop also aimed to identify best practices and experiences by reviewing the experiences of national human rights institutions participating in the workshop.
It's worth noting that the National Commission for Human Rights was established under Federal Law No. (12) of 2021, which specifies that the Commission has independent legal personality, financial and administrative independence, enabling it to carry out its duties and activities in line with the Constitution, laws, and current regulations in the country, as well as relevant international charters, conventions, and treaties. National human rights institutions, established according to the Paris Principles, are official bodies created by states with a legal mandate to promote and protect human rights.
The delegation included Amira Al-Saridi, Chair of the Committee for Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights; Dr. Zaid Al-Shamsi, Chair of the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee; Amro Al-Qahtani, Director of the President's Office; Fajr Al-Haydan, Head of the Executive Affairs Department in the President's Office; Abdulaziz Al-Oubthani, Head of the International and Regional Organizations Department; and Fatima Al-Hosani, Head of the International Relations and Communications Department.
This participation reflects the commitment of the National Commission for Human Rights to enhancing its knowledge and capabilities and aligning its practices with international human rights standards.