Bahrain phoney “reforms” slammed during side event in Geneva

Bahrain phoney “reforms” slammed during side event in Geneva
ABNA News Agency, 19 Jun 2014


Two years since Bahrain promised to implement the recommendations made during its universal periodic review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council, a side event in Geneva has slammed any progress made. The event co-organised by the Arab NGO Network for Development and Bahrain Human Rights Observatory (BHRO), heard from Fareeda Ghulam, wife of Bahraini political prisoner Ebrahim Shariff, Abdulnabi Alekry from BHRO, Matthew Sands of the Association for Prevention of Torture and was moderated by Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, Secretary-General of No Peace Without Justice.
In May 2012 Bahrain received 176 recommendations to implement at the UN Human Rights Council, as part of its Universal Periodic Review. Bahrain promised to implement the vast majority, in addition to the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, but both Matthew Sands and Abulnabi Alekry highlighted the deterioration of the human rights situation in Bahrain during this period.
In the next session of the Human Rights Council in September, Bahrain will have to provide an interim report on its progress towards the UPR recommendations. The message from this side event was that regardless of any claims made by the Government, little progress has been made and violations are ongoing.

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