Introduction
1. NIHR submits its parallel report on the national report of Bahrain on the measures taken
by the Kingdom to implement OPAC,1 and appreciates the efforts in submitting the national
report on OPAC, and NIHR submits its parallel report based on that.
First: General guidelines
1. Report preparation
1.1 NIHR commends the existing cooperation between government agencies and CSIs, and
the participation of stakeholders in expressing their opinions and observations, as the Gov
Child National Committee was aware of the NIHR’s observations during the preparation of
this report.
1.2 NIHR hopes that the participation of CSIs will be more effective in preparing the national
report, through the report-preparing body managing national consultations, similar to the
consultations during the preparation of the UPR.
2. The legal status
2.1 According to Article (37) of Bahrain Constitution, as soon as the Kingdom joined the
OPSC under Law No. (19) of 2004, the Protocol became part of national law issued by the
legislative authority and is applicable to all2.
2.2 Bahrain has issued number of legislations that guarantee the rights of the child; the
Children’s Law No. (37) of 2012, and Law No. (44) of 2018 regarding International Crimes,
which prohibited manifestations of the involvement of children in armed conflicts, the Law
on Promulgating the Restorative Justice Law for Children and their Protection from
Maltreatment (Law No. (4) of 2021), in addition to the accession to Rights of the Child.
Convention.3
1
To view Law No. (26) of 2014 establishing the NIHR, amended by Decree-Law No. (20) of 2016:
https://www.nihr.org.bh/EN/MediaHandler/GenericHandler/2022/002_NIHR_Law_amend.pdf
2
Article (37) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain stipulates that “...a treaty shall have the force of
law after its conclusion, ratification and publication in the Official Gazette.”
3
To view the national legislation issued in the Kingdom of Bahrain, please review the official website of the
Authority for Legislation and Legal Opinion: https://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/
1