“The SCA recalls its October 2023 report, in which it found that the NIHRB had not provided sufficient evidence of effective and meaningful cooperation with civil society organisations (CSOs), including human rights defenders, in the exercise of its protection mandate on serious human rights violations.

The NIHRB reported its engagement with the Ministry of Social Development to seek support for CSOs, the organization of 22 meetings with CSOs from November 2023 to January 2024, and the establishment of a Joint Working Group with eight registered CSOs in Bahrain. The SCA acknowledges the efforts of the NIHR to strengthen its relationships with CSOs in fulfilling its mandate.

Third-party submissions however indicate that the NIHRB has not meaningfully engaged with CSOs, adding that the discussions and outcomes of the consultations are not publicized and that the process lacks transparency. The SCA reiterates that NHRIs should maintain working relationships with human rights defenders as well as a wide range of civil society organisations.

The SCA encourages NIHRB to continue strengthening its engagement with CSOs, particularly in the discharge of its protection mandate, and to reinforce its work on the protection of human rights defenders in Bahrain.

The SCA refers to Paris Principles C (f) and (g) and to its General Observations 1.2 on ´Human Rights Mandate´ and 1.5 on ‘Cooperation with other human rights bodies.’”

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