Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2023 to Question 317 on Bahrain: Human Rights, what reports his Department has received on the ability of (a) civil society organisations and (b) journalists who have received support from the Gulf Strategy Fund to (i) operate independently from and (ii) voice opposition to the Bahraini authorities.

The FCDO remains committed to supporting reform in Bahrain, including through projects delivered via the Gulf Strategy Fund. We work closely with implementing partners to ensure that projects deliver results and value for money, including in the case of the two projects in question which provided training for a) 38 members of civil societies; and b) 26 members of the Bahrain Journalists Association. Beneficiaries of both projects provided positive feedback on the effectiveness of the training provided.