and periodic reports, as well as the concept of human rights and business management that supports corporate responsibility in the promotion and protection of human rights. 16. The United Nations Global Compact initiative, adopted by the United Nations in 2000, aims to promote Sustainable Development Goals. It comprises 12,000 international partners from the business and industrial sectors and 4,000 non-profit organizations. 17. As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and exchange of experiences with the various local, regional, and international academic institutions, the NIHR, in coordination with the Supreme Council for Women, hosted a delegation of students from Johns Hopkins University during their visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain to become familiar with its experience in the area of the advancement of women. 18. The NIHR has been keen on attendance and representation, at the local and external levels, in regional and international forums connected with its field of work and specialization through its participation in many seminars, workshops, training courses, and conferences. The NIHR participated in the technical group assigned to evaluate the Pakistani Human Rights Commission in the Republic of Pakistan. The group consisted of a number experts selected by the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) to provide a technical program to improve the performance of the emerging human rights institutions in accordance with the relevant international standards. 19. In this regard, the NIHR participated in the meeting of the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) Regional Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, as well as its participation in the side event on “The role of the national institutions in promoting and monitoring global compliance of the executive and legislative branches with international human rights law”, which was held by GANHRI in cooperation with the Australian and Portuguese Governments and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. 20. In addition, a delegation from the NIHR participated in the discussion session held by of the Human Rights Committee, which is mandated to follow up on the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Kingdom of Bahrain joined pursuant to Law No. (56) of 2006. The NIHR presented its parallel report that was submitted to the Committee on the Initial Report of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the progress made in the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant. Moreover, a brief explanation was made on the main recommendations contained therein and the extent of the Kingdom’s implementation of its provisions. 21. Moreover, the NIHR participated in the training course on “Gender equality in the Middle East and North Africa” organized by the Danish Institute for Human Rights in Denmark. It also participated in the international symposium on “The Role of Islamophobia: Violations of Human 39