Working Group on Women’s and Children’s Rights Enhances Civil Society Cooperation
The Working Group on Women’s and Children’s Rights continued its periodic meetings under the chairpersonship of Dr. Maha Saleh Al Shehab, Child Rights Commissioner, with the participation of representatives from relevant civil society institutions, as well as representatives of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR). The meeting was held at NIHR’s headquarters in Seef District.
During its meeting held on 14 December 2025, the role and mandates of NIHR were reviewed, and its function as a link between government entities and civil society institutions was emphasized. The Working Group’s mechanism of operation was also presented, and it was decided that meetings would be held on a monthly basis during the initial phase.
The objectives of the Working Group were reviewed, including strengthening cooperation and coordination between NIHR and civil society institutions; establishing communication channels for the exchange of information and expertise; proposing innovative initiatives to protect and promote human rights; enhancing members’ capacities; creating a shared database; examining the human rights situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain; addressing complaints; organizing joint events and training programmes; and preparing studies and surveys to measure awareness levels and assess the compatibility of legislation with international standards.
At its subsequent meeting held on 11 February 2026, the Working Group discussed the international and national human rights frameworks and the challenges facing associations in their work. The meeting included a presentation on international humanitarian law and the four Geneva Conventions, as well as a review of the core international human rights treaties and the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, in addition to constitutional guarantees and national mechanisms concerned with the protection of human rights. Participants also addressed key regulatory and financial challenges, and ways to strengthen coordination with official entities.
