Human Rights

(asked on 12th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the report by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Global Britain: Human Rights and the Rule of Law (HC 874), published on 11 September 2018, in particular its recommendation that “repercussions, including the suspension of support” should be introduced for those states that do not make sufficient progress, or regress, in areas of rule of law and democracy; and (2) the report by the Freedom House Freedom in the World 2019: Bahrain which stated that Bahrain has “become one of the Middle East’s most repressive’ states”; and what steps, if any, they have taken in response to those reports' findings and recommendations.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 22nd May 2020

We take note of a number of sources of information when assessing performance and progress. We continue to believe that Bahrain is taking steps in the right direction to improve its human rights record, in line with the Government's Plan which built on the reform recommendations set out in the 2012 BICI Report. Whilst we and the Government of Bahrain acknowledge this is a work in progress, our support for this Bahrain-led reform is helping to build effective and accountable institutions, strengthen the rule of law and deliver justice reform. All our support is in line with international standards, and aims to share the UK's expertise and experience. Any training provided by, or behalf of, the British Government fully complies with our domestic and international human rights obligations.

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