8. Paragraph (11) of Article (2) of the said proposed law stipulates that, “Covering up those fugitives accused or convicted in acts of terrorism.” This proposed law was presented to the Council of Representatives, concluding in its Decision No. (22) of the first ordinary annual session of the fifth legislative term - Session No. (10) on 19 February 2019 - to amend the name of the proposed law to “proposed law adding a new Article No. (16-bis) to Law No. (58) of 2006 on the Protection of Society against Acts of Terrorism,” and to add a new article No. (16-bis), which stipulates that, “Any person hiding a suspect or a convicted person in any of the crimes provided for in this law, with his knowledge, shall be punishable with imprisonment. The provision of this article does not apply to the spouse of the harbored person, nor to his/her ancestors, descendants, brothers or sisters, and to those of the same status as relatives by virtue of intermarriage.” 9. The NIHR concluded that it agrees with the Decision of the Council of Representatives regarding adding a new article No. (16- bis) to the proposed law. It commended the humanitarian approach represented by not establishing crime and punishment of the spouse of the person hiding the accused or the convicted, nor his/her ancestors, descendants, brothers or sisters, and those relatives by virtue of intermarriage. This approach is in conformity with the basic principles of human rights, and takes into account family and societal dimensions. Fourth: Proposed law to add a new article No. (189-bis) to the Penal Code promulgated by Decree-Law No. (15) of 1976 10. The NIHR expressed its advisory opinion regarding a proposed law to add a new article No. (189-bis) to the Penal Code promulgated by Decree- Law No. (15) of 1976, which consists of two articles, in addition to the preamble. The first article thereof adds a new article No. (189bis) to the Penal Code issued by Decree-Law No. (15) of 1976, and the second article is an executive article. 11. The second paragraph of Article (189-bis) of the proposed law stipulates that, “Any person who presents, gives, offers, or promises to give to a public official or an individual in charge of a public service anything provided for in Article (186) is a briber. Any person who interferes by intermediation with the briber or the bribe-taker to offer, ask for, accept, take, or promise to give a bribe is considered a mediator. The briber and the mediator shall be punishable with the penalty prescribed for the bribe-taker”. 12. The NIHR concluded that it agrees in principle with the purposes and objectives of the proposed law in question, as it is consistent with the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which the Kingdom of Bahrain has ratified under Law No. (7) of 2010, taking into consideration the general rules pertaining to drafting punitive provisions, and ensuring that attention is paid to achieve equality between the legal positions of all the parties to the crime of bribery. 50

Select target paragraph3