INTRODUCTION Since His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, ascended the throne in 1999, the Kingdom of Bahrain experienced major changes towards fostering democracy and establishing partnership in decision-making with a view to entrenching the foundations of the rule of law. This process commenced with the adoption of the National Action Charter in 2001, which paved the way for restoration of parliamentary life and holding the parliamentary and municipal elections in 2002, leading to the constitutional amendments in 2012. These amendments strengthened the legislative and supervisory powers of the elected House of Representatives and limited the role of the nominated Shura Council to a legislative role, to the exclusion of the supervisory role. These amendments also addressed the need for the government to submit, during the constitutional period, an action program to the House of Representatives for approval or rejection. These are fundamental changes that had an impact on human rights and public freedoms and ensuring enjoyment of these rights by people in the Kingdom. Accordingly, the action program of the Government for the years (2015-2018)1 included six key themes. The first is sovereignty theme, in which the priority of the strategy is to promote security, stability, democratic system and foreign relations. The second is the economic and financial theme, in which the priority of the strategy is to promote a strong and diversified economy and a stable fiscal and monetary regulation. The third is human development and social services theme, in which the priority of the strategy is to enable Bahrainis to foster their contribution to the development process. The fourth is the infrastructure theme, in which the priority of the strategy is to secure a permanent infrastructure for sustainable economic growth. The fifth is environment and urban development theme, in which the priority of the strategy is towards sustainable management of strategic resources and securing sustainable urban development. The last theme is concerned with government performance, in which the priority of the strategy is to enhance the effectiveness of government performance efficiency. As a whole, these six themes address human rights and public freedoms. Article 21 of Law No. 26 of 2014 Establishing of the National Institution for Human Rights provides that: “The Council of Commissioners shall prepare an annual report on NIHR efforts, activities, and other works related to human rights in the Kingdom, and any recommendations and proposals within its mandate. The Council of Commissioners shall determine performance obstacles and any approved solutions to avoid such obstacles. The Council of Commissioners shall present its report to the King, the Cabinet, the House of Representatives, and Shura Council, and shall present in parallel its report to the public opinion”. Accordingly, this second annual report of the National Institution for Human Rights for 2014 complements its first report for 1 On January 6, 2015, the Government presented its action program for the years (2015-2018) to the House of Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Article 46, Clause 2, of the Constitution which states that “... the Prime Minister shall submit the Government’s program, within thirty days from taking constitutional oath, to the House of Representatives, or at its first meeting if he is absent”. In the seventh ordinary meeting of the House of Representatives of the first ordinary convocation of the fourth legislative term held on February 3, 2015, it decided to approve the action program of the Government after making the necessary amendments thereto. The Government’s action program for the years (2015-2018) is available on following link: http://www.bna.bh. 7