Bahrain

Shura CouncilCouncil of Representatives

Council of Representatives

Specialized body - Human rights

Standing Parliamentary Committee on Human Right
(November 2018)

About

Members

Number of members
All MembersBelow 45 years of age
Total50
Men50

Chairperson(s)

Chair 1
Ammar Albannai
Chairperson: Sex
Male
Date of birth
04 Dec 1973

Chairperson

Chairperson: Sex
Male
Age: Chairperson is below 45 years of age
No
Political affiliation
Independent

Committee functions

Mainstream human rights into the work of (other) parliamentary committees and of Parliament as a whole
Yes
Scrutinise all Bills for their compatibility with human rights
Yes
Scrutinise the Executive’s policy for compatibility with human rights
Yes
Obtain information from the Executive about the justification for actions or inaction which affect human rights
Yes
Scrutinise State compliance with existing UN human rights treaties
Yes
Initiate inquiries of its own choosing
No
Scrutinise proposed human rights treaties, and other international treaties with implications for human rights, and report to Parliament thereon, prior to ratification
Yes
Ascertain and review the Executive’s reasons for not acceding to or ratifying existing international human rights treaties
Yes
Scrutinise the Executive’s response to judgments of national, regional and international courts with implications for human rights
Yes
Monitor the adequacy of the existing national system for the protection of human rights
No
Review the allocation and expenditure of funds in the State budget to support measures to promote and protect human rights
No
Other important functions, please specify
The Committee's participation in the most recent review of the national situation of human rights by the United Nations Human Rights Council under the Universal Periodic Review (which monitors the status of human rights in every Member State of the United Nations every four years)

Committee involvement in international and national reporting mechanisms

Such as the UN Human Rights Council and its' Universal Periodic Review, the UN CEDAW Committee etc.
Consulted in the preparation of national report to the UN Human Rights Council
Yes
Included in the official delegation which orally presented the most recent national report to the Council
No
Discussed the conclusions and recommendations which the Council adopted as a result
Yes
Conducted hearings with the Executive about its plans to implement the conclusions and recommendations of the Human Rights Council
Yes

Committee powers

The Committee has the power to:
Propose amendments to legislation
No
Introduce bills into Parliament
No
Initiate parliamentary debates on its reports or on subjects of its choosing
Yes
Carry out inquiries
No
Hold oral evidence hearings
Yes
Compel witnesses to attend
Yes
Compel the production of documents and papers
Yes
Make recommendations to the Executive
Yes
Conduct visits, including visits abroad
No
Access places of detention without notice
No

Committee working methods

Number of specialised staff to service committee
5

Cooperation and coordination

The Committee regularly cooperates and coordinates (e.g. through sharing of reports; meetings; joint follow-up action) with:
Other parliamentary committees
Sometimes
Civil society organisations
Often
National Human Rights Institution(s) Often called “Commissions” and/or “Ombudspersons” in the area of human rights
Sometimes
Academic institutions, including research institutes on human rights and the rule of law
Sometimes
The media
Always