2. 2.1. Non-discrimination, equality between men and women and minority rights: Articles (2, 3, 18, 23, 26 and 27)10 The right to equality and non-discrimination is an integral part of the foundations of the principle of the rule of law, which is a basic element of the democratic system. All individuals within the State are entitled to enjoy the rights and freedoms set forth in the legal system on equal basis, without discrimination on any ground such as race, sex, language, religion, creed, political difference, or otherwise. 2.2. Article (18) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain stipulates that: “People are equal in human dignity, and citizens are equal before the law in public rights and duties. There shall be no discrimination among them on the basis of sex, origin, language, religion or creed.” 2.3. The NIHR took note of the steps taken by the Kingdom in order to ensure de facto equality in the enjoyment of all rights and freedoms without discrimination. The most prominent of these steps is the introduction of the principle of equal opportunities by issuing the Civil Service Directive No. (4) of 2014 on the establishment of Equal Opportunities Committee (EOC) in government entities; an approach adopted by a number of independent official bodies as well as the private sector in several private companies and establishments. 2.4. The Equal Opportunity Committee is a standing committee aims at integrating women’s needs in the framework of equal opportunities in 10 For more information, please review NIHR’s third annual report, 2015, Chapter IV: Section Three: The right to equality and nondiscrimination in the enjoyment of rights, (www.nihr.org.bh). Parallel Report by the National Institution for Human Rights of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Human Rights Committee © 2018 19