HUMAN rights is an important pillar of the ongoing reforms in the kingdom in the political, economic and social fields, according to a top minister.
Social Development Minister Osama Al Asfoor highlighted this in his closing remarks during a high-level UN meeting in Geneva yesterday.
He is leading a Bahraini delegation to the 97th Child Rights Committee session, which was chaired by Ann Skelton yesterday.
The committee reviewed Bahrain’s initial reports on the two optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Protection of children from sale, prostitution and pornography (OPSC), and protection of children from involvement in armed conflict (OPAC).
Mr Al Asfoor stressed the huge strides made by the kingdom in promoting children’s rights and implementing the agreements it has ratified.
“We highlighted our reports and it remains our steadfast belief to continue to work on human rights, which is an important pillar of our reform project,” he said.
“We reiterate our regional and international commitments as well as our efforts to enforce human rights on all levels.
“The committee’s recommendations are received in a positive and constructive manner, reflecting transparency in our rights system.”
The delegation includes representatives from several ministries and Child Rights Commissioner Dr Hooreya Yusuf who also spoke during the OPSC discussions.
The committee was told that, according to the protocol, BDF’s recruitment and enlistment officer should ensure that no soldier or officer is aged under 18.
The delegation also made it clear that there was no violation or case registered in the country relating to the two optional protocols.
Services provided by the Child Protection Centre and the child-friendly legislations to protect the younger generation were also highlighted.
During the OPSC discussion on Tuesday, Mr Al Asfoor spoke about the Himaya (protection) campaign that was launched last month and runs until the year-end to raise cybersecurity awareness among children to protect them from fraudsters, online predators and violent content, among other emerging threats.
The campaign focuses on educating parents and caregivers on identifying and responding to cases of online exploitation and blackmail targeting children.
The minister also briefed delegates about the National Strategy for Childhood (2023-2027).
Bahrain joined Interpol’s International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database in June as it steps up efforts to combat online child exploitation, in line with the directives of Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.
The Children’s Cyberspace Protection Unit of the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security joined the database that is designed to support experts working on cases involving the sexual and online exploitation of children.
It enables member-states to share information and experiences related to these types of issues.
The database also provides access to the best expertise to help member-states combat child sexual and electronic exploitation effectively.
In 2021, His Majesty King Hamad ratified Law 4/2021 on the promulgation of the Corrective Justice Law for Children and their Protection from Ill-Treatment.
The law guarantees children restorative justice, care and protection from ill-treatment.
It aims to give top priority to the child’s interests in all rulings, decisions and procedures related to them, regardless of the authority that issues or executes them.
The law also specifies penalties to be imposed on those who incite or coerce children to commit crimes, prepare them for that, or assist them in committing them.
Child Corrective Justice Courts were then set up to examine criminal cases related to crimes committed by children aged over 15 at the time of the crime.
A national toll-free child helpline, 998, also works round the clock to receive calls from children or concerned adults reporting violence, abuse or danger.
&uuid=(email))