National Institution for Human Rights – Kingdom of Bahrain 3. Providing adequate training programs for law enforcement agencies, particularly those entrusted with the protection of peaceful gatherings, including training on the gradual use of means of dispersing gatherings if they are contrary to the law, how to manage the crowds and participants in those gatherings, implementing a system to record and monitor the ammunition used for dispersing gatherings, and a system for communication records in order to monitor operation orders and those responsible for these operations and the executing officers. This will facilitate identifying liability for the violation, and non-infringement on the rights of others. 4. Urging civil society organizations to deepen the understanding of the right to peaceful assembly, raise the awareness of the participants and organizers of peaceful gatherings about the legal aspects and violations that might be committed by the participants and their implications, and to assume an active role in promoting awareness of the importance of this right, its exercise and its envisaged objectives in a peaceful context as a civilized form of democratic practice, announcing the end of the assembly formally, and inviting the participants to disperse. 5. Law enforcement agencies need to protect and facilitate the access of journalists and observers to the peaceful gatherings locations in order to cover the events and monitor the events of these gatherings. 6. Considering and allowing the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association of the Human Rights Council to visit the Kingdom. SEVENTH: RIGHT TO ORGANIZE 1. The right to organize is a key component of democracy, and the basis for the practical exercise of any rights and public freedoms. The importance of this right is reflected in forming an association by a group of individuals in order to work on, express, promote, or defend common interests on a collective basis. The right to organize includes the ability of these legal entities to form and join an association, in addition to terminating, suspending, and dissolving such association. These associations take a variety of forms, including civil, political, or trade union forms. 2. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain has guaranteed the right to organize, in its various forms, under Article 27 which provides as follows: “The freedom to form associations and unions on national principles, for lawful objectives and by peaceful means is guaranteed under the rules and conditions stipulated by law, provided that the fundamentals of the religion and public order are not infringed. No one can be forced to join any association or union or to continue as a member”. 3. In terms of national legislation, Decree-Law No. 21 of 1989 Promulgating the Law on Societies, Social and Cultural Clubs, Youth and Sports Private Bodies, and Private Institutions, as amended, addresses the provisions relating to the formation, registration and organization of associations, and the provisions of dissolving these associations. 4. Regarding the right to political organization, Law No. 26 of 2005 on Political Associations organizes the work of these associations in terms of the mechanism and rules of their establishment, their legal status, the acts which are prohibited to be carried out by the associations, and the conditions in which the association may be dissolved or suspended. This Law strengthens the foundations of democracy in society and promotes political life. 68