Bahrain's huge strides in safeguarding human rights in the face of extreme challenges, were highlighted at the UN in Geneva yesterday (March 4).

It took part in the 28th session of the Human Rights Council at the Palais des Nations. The session is expected to continue until March 27, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Abdulla Abdullatif Abdulla affirmed Bahrain's commitment to its national constitution, Action Charter and legislation which all secure citizens and residents' rights.

He added that Bahrain is living up to the commitments and pledges it made to the UN and to its numerous mechanisms and agencies in order to safeguard human rights, a prerequisite to further progress and prosperity and to proceed with implementation of the ambitious reform scheme of His Majesty King Hamad which considers human rights reinforcement a key component.

He announced the kingdom's intention to resume co-operation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in areas like capacity-building, and its plans to present a number of national reports to the UN contractual committees.

He outlined challenges facing Bahrain, notably the escalation of violence in terms of innovative approaches, not numbers, and the politicised religious discourses that preach sectarian divide and hatred, which confuse between instigation and the right to freedom of speech, in a way that conflicts with the principles of effective democratic participation. - TradeArabia News Service