Manama, Members of the Ombuds Office (General Secretariat of Complaints) participated in a specialised workshop organised by the Human Rights Affairs committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The workshop, held from 8 to 10 July 2024, focused on universal periodic review mechanisms and special procedures in the United Nations Human Rights Council.
During the workshop’s opening, Mazen Shaqoura, the OHCHR Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), provided an overview of the UN’s human rights mechanisms, particularly the roles of the OHCHR and the Human Rights Council in Geneva, and the forms of cooperation with special rapporteurs appointed by the council.
The workshop included presentations from UN experts on several key topics. These included the differences, mandates, and tasks of the UN human rights mechanisms and their relationships with states, the process of conducting the univ
ersal periodic review (UPR) before the Human Rights Council, and the national consultations involved. The programme also covered the preparation of reports, guidelines, and the principles related to these processes.
Additionally, speakers explained the special procedures, their functions, and Bahrain’s experience in engaging with these procedures, preparing reports, and responding within the UPR framework. Coordination between all national entities involved in this context was also discussed.
The Ombuds Office presented its operational mechanism, detailing how it handles complaints and requests for assistance, and its communication with UN mechanisms in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and non governmental organisations. This is done through international cooperation and adhering to principles of credibility and transparency.
The Ombuds Office highlighted Bahrain’s unique experience with independent redress mechanisms that integrate and follow international best practices, enhancing human
rights respect nationally across all humanitarian and developmental activities.
The workshop sessions included open discussions between presenters and participants, exchanging views and ideas on the topics addressed, and exploring ways to improve engagement with the UN human rights mechanisms while considering the specific mandates and requirements of each mechanism and the types of responses and reports they necessitate.
Source: Bahrain News Agency