Compatibility and commitment to the international legal system

Bahrain has made great strides in safeguarding and protecting human rights and preserving the dignity of citizens and residents, in accordance with its constitutional and legal frameworks. The Kingdom’s constitution (PDF, 1773KB, 168 pages) guarantees the compatibility of local laws and policies with international conventions. This is the most important characteristic of Bahrain’s constitutional system, as it provides “direct access” to guaranteed human rights in the Kingdom as ensured by the constitution. This is in addition to its commitment to international human rights conventions and treaties, as Bahrain was the first Arab country to ratify some of them. Among the most important of these international conventions, charters, and treaties are:

Human rights

• The Arab Charter on Human Rights (PDF, 546KB, 16 pages, Arabic only) issued by the League of Arab States in 1997, with some amendments added in 2005. The Kingdom of Bahrain signed this charter in 2005 and it was ratified in 2006.

Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination

• International Conventions on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (PDF, 556KB, 17 pages, Arabic only) adopted and opened for signature, ratification, and accession by the United Nations General Assembly on December 21, 1965. It entered into force on January 4, 1969.

Combating torture and inhumane treatment

• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (PDF, 614KB, 15 pages, Arabic only) which was adopted by the General Assembly and became open for signature, ratification, and accession on December 10, 1984. It entered into force on June 26, 1987.

Child Rights

• The Convention on the Rights of the Child (PDF, 790KB, 19 pages, Arabic only) adopted by the General Assembly on November 20, 1989, and entered into force on September 2, 1990. This is in addition to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in relation to the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which is related to the involvement of children in armed conflict.
• Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (PDF, 380KB, 11 pages, Arabic only) to which the Kingdom acceded in 2001.

Women's rights

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (PDF, 447KB, 13 pages, Arabic only) adopted by the General Assembly on December 18, 1979, and entered into force on December 3, 1981.

Civil and political rights

• The International Treaty on Civil and Political Rights (PDF, 603KB, 17 pages, Arabic only) which was adopted and opened for signature, ratification, and accession by the General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and entered into force on March 23, 1976.

Economic, social, and cultural rights

• The International Treaty on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PDF, 491KB, 13 pages, Arabic only) which was adopted and opened for signature, ratification, and accession by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and entered into force on January 3, 1979.

Labor rights

• Convention No. 105 on the Elimination of Compulsory Labour, ratified by the Kingdom of Bahrain in 1998.
• Convention No. 111 (PDF, 181KB, 5 pages, Arabic only) regarding the prevention of discrimination in employment and occupation which Bahrain acceded to in 2000.

Rights of people with disabilities

• Law No. (22) of 2011 (PDF, 15229KB, 81 pages, Arabic only) ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Slavery and trafficking in persons

• Decree No. (7) of 1990 regarding accession to the Slavery Convention of September 25, 1926, as amended by the 1953 Protocol, and the Supplementary Convention (PDF, 393KB, 14 pages, Arabic only) for the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Slavery-like Institutions and Practices 1956.
• Decree No. 1 of 2008 (PDF, 223KB, 4 pages, Arabic only) on combating trafficking in persons.

Fighting crime

• Decree No. 4 of 1990 regarding the accession to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (PDF, 132KB, 5 pages, Arabic only), issued on December 9, 1948.
• Law No. (4) of 2004 approving the accession of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its two complementary protocols (PDF, 1990KB, 51 pages, Arabic only).

Rights of convicts

• Law No. (18) of 2017 (PDF, 420KB, 7 pages) Concerning Penalties and Alternative Measures.
• Royal Order No. (53) of 2020 (PDF, 100KB, 1 page, Arabic only) establishing the Commission for the Rights of Prisoners and Detainees.

Rights of the press, printing, and access to information

• Decree No. 47 of 2002 (PDF, 734KB, 24 pages, Arabic only) regulating the press, printing, and publishing
  Bahrain is studying the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the government referred to the Council of Representatives.