for Human Rights” that exercises its functions freely, impartially, and with full independence. 3. To underline the importance of supporting the work of the NIHR being the independent entity in the Kingdom of Bahrain regarding the promotion and protection of human rights, a law was enacted giving the NIHR a real guarantee and independence, while granting it more powers and authorities in a manner consistent with the “Paris Principles” pertaining to the status of national institutions in promoting and protecting human rights. On 24 July 2014 and in accordance with the established constitutional procedures in this regard, His Majesty the King issued Law No. (26) of 2014 establishing the National Institution for Human Rights3, after being approved by the legislative authority; the Law entered into force after its publication in the Official Gazette on 8 August 2014. 4. To ensure greater independence of the work of the NIHR and to confirm its conformity with the relevant international resolutions, taking into account the observations of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), the Law establishing the NIHR was amended by Decree-Law No. (20) of 2016,4 and entered into force after its publication in the Official Gazette on 7 October 2016. Section Two: The broad mandate of the National Institution for Human Rights 1. The “Paris Principles” affirmed that “the national institution shall be vested with competence to promote and protect human rights,” and that “the national institution shall be given as broad a mandate as possible and clearly set forth in a constitutional or legislative text that determine its establishment and the scope of its competence”,5 3 Law No. (26) of 2014. In Arabic https://www.nihr.org.bh/MediaHandler/GenericHandler/documents/download/NIHRLaw_26_2014_OG_ar.pdf https://www.nihr.org.bh/EN/MediaHandler/GenericHandler/documents/Download/LawNo26of2014_engl.pdf in English 4 Decree-Law No (20) of 2016, in Arabic https://www.nihr.org.bh/MediaHandler/GenericHandler/documents/download/LawDecree_No_20_of_2016.pdf https://www.nihr.org.bh/EN/MediaHandler/GenericHandler/documents/Download/LawDecree202016_amendingLaw26-2014.pdf in English 5 Paris Principles relating to the status of national institutions for promoting and protecting human rights (competence and responsibilities) in Arabic https://www.nihr.org.bh/MediaHandler/GenericHandler/PDF/01.%20ParisPrinciples_Ar.pdf Ninth Annual Report of the NIHR 9