Donald Trump told his Ambassador to the UN to advise the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCCHR) to withdraw the US from that committee, as it’s membership came from numerous countries, in breach of human rights concerns.
In June 2018, other UNHCR delegates and the UN Secretary General were so advised.
Empirical evidence shows, no matter what Bahrain does, no matter how much they invite delegates from various countries, international organisations, to come and see for themselves, in regular displays of “openness,” claims to have no affect.
Instead it is Amnesty from afar, and the word of dissident Bahrainis in London, many stripped of their citizenship, like a cracked vinyl record, are stuck in the “groove of over-throw” of the Ruling “family.”
What to do?
The current committee head, a Jordanian, you think would have a better feel of the region.
Bahrain is not a member of OHCCHR, but must report annually on Human Rights in Bahrain.
The UN representative, presumably, also has to report back to UN headquarters
What is this man saying to UN headquarters, information, which also goes to the OHCCHR?
That information is then carried in the committee’s periodic assessment of “country performance” on human rights.
It “names and shames” all countries seen to be in breach of human rights standards.
Australia is one of them, for issues relating to Aboriginals, and the offshore detainment of refugees.
Both those issues are stoutly defended by the Australian UN representative and the foreign minister
Another mentioned is Bahrain.
Likewise, by Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Bahrain’s UN Ambassador and officials.
They speak to committee representatives, “in the margins” of the meetings of the OHCCHR, to try and get their message across.
They point to the developments which have taken place in Bahrain, particularly since events in 2011.
The Independent Committee of Inquiry into events of that time, filed an extensive report.
Bahrain has met and rectified most of the issues identified by the committee.
Established an Ombudsman, open inspection visits to the prison, meetings with prisoners, for foreign officials, human rights activists, to listen to prisoner complaints.
Numerous members of the diplomatic corps have attended the judicial hearings against Ali Salman and Nabeel Rajab in the civil courts.
Both have been tried in Bahrain’s highest court and found guilty of events such as aiding or facilitating terrorism, sedition, urging people to rise up against the Ruling family, wanting “regime change.”
And replace it with an Daesh-like Islamic State?
Or one “guided” by Mullahs, like the land across the Gulf?
Now the UN representative in Bahrain, has full diplomatic recognition, and presumably, avails himself of all the privileges and entitlements that comes with diplomatic ranking.
Again recently , a highly critical Report on Bahrain, by the CHR.
If the UN Representative in Bahrain’s reporting is reflected by the OHCCHR, “do a Trump” make him, Persona Non Grata, be off with him!
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