Meeting

The Bureau of the Council of Commissioners of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) held its seventh meeting, chaired by Eng. Ali Ahmed Alderazi, with the participation of the Vice-Chairperson, heads of the Standing Committees, and the Child Rights Commissioner, and in the presence of the Secretary-General. The meeting discussed a number of initiatives and programs aimed at promoting human rights awareness, strengthening cooperation with civil society organizations, and expanding youth participation in NIHR activities.

The Bureau emphasized the importance of continuing to develop educational programs targeting civil society organizations, in light of the positive feedback received on the two lectures organized by NIHR for organizations participating in the working groups established to facilitate cooperation with the Institution. It also stressed the importance of completing the scheduled activities by the end of the current year to strengthen community partnerships and contribute to building human rights capacities.

As part of its efforts to keep pace with international initiatives, the Bureau discussed the "Human Rights Cities and Local Governance" initiative launched by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which aims to translate human rights commitments into tangible practices at the local level, in conjunction with preparations to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2028. The Bureau directed that further information on the initiative be gathered to explore opportunities for benefiting from it.

The meeting also addressed NIHR's efforts to promote constitutional awareness through an educational event planned in cooperation with the Bahrain Institute for Political Development during October, aimed at highlighting the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the constitutional guarantees for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

As part of its follow-up on the outcomes of human rights events, the Bureau discussed the finalization of the concluding statement and recommendations of the regional workshop on "Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance and the Protection of Human Rights in the Arab Region," organized by NIHR on 16–17 September in cooperation with the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in preparation for their adoption and publication.

In its efforts to strengthen community engagement, the Bureau placed particular emphasis on expanding youth participation in NIHR programs and activities. It discussed mechanisms for maintaining sustainable engagement with members of the "Friends of the Child Rights Commissioner" group after they reach the age of 18, while drawing on their experience in human rights initiatives. The Bureau affirmed that empowering young people and ensuring their active participation are fundamental pillars for fostering a culture of human rights and strengthening its presence throughout society.