and consider this reporting a mitigating excuse or exemption of penalty. Also, the addition of the new article in the proposed draft law does not result in any violation or infringement of human rights and basic freedoms, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, conventions, international and regional treaties relevant to human rights. Sixth: Proposed amendment of Paragraph (A) of Article No. (8) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain 1. The NIHR expressed its advisory opinion regarding the proposal to amend Paragraph (A) of Article (8) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain, which consists of two articles, in addition to the preamble, where the first article included replacing the text of Paragraph (A) of Article No. (8) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain that establishes the right of every citizen to free health care, and the second is an executive article. 2. The text of Paragraph (A) of Article No. (8) in the proposal reads as follows: “Every citizen has the right to free health care. The State is concerned with public health and means of prevention and treatment is guaranteed through the establishment of various types of hospitals and health institutions.” 3. The NIHR concluded that it favors retaining the text of Paragraph (A) of Article No. (8) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain, given that the current (effective) text achieves the same goals and objectives as the proposal to amend the Constitution aims to achieve, in addition to the fact that the current (effective) text is in compliance with international human rights instruments, particularly the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which the Kingdom of Bahrain acceded under Law No. (10) of 2007, and the general comments issued by the Committee on Interpretation of the relevant provisions of the International Covenant. Seventh: Proposed law to amend Article (391) of the Code of Criminal Procedure promulgated by Decree-Law No. (46) of 2002 1. The NIHR expressed its advisory opinion regarding the proposed law to amend Article No. (391) of the Code of Criminal Procedure promulgated by Decree-Law No. (46) of 2002, which consists of two articles, in addition to the preamble, where the first article included replacing the text of Article (391) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to increase the cases in which the convict must be rehabilitated, and the second is an executive article. 2. The text of Article No. (391) of the draft law reads as follows: “In order to restore rehabilitation: a. The penalty must be fully served, or official pardon has been issued, or it has expired with lapse of time. NIHR Bahrain- Eighth Annual Report 2020 109

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