National Institution for Human Rights – Kingdom of Bahrain 22. As regards securing the streets and placing traffic barriers, the Ministry of Public Works implemented the National Plan for Traffic Safety, which aims to improve traffic safety on the roads and reduce traffic accidents and mortality rate by 30% in the next ten years. The Ministry reported that a guide was also prepared to provide traffic safety requirements for each road project; so that each road is fully equipped before it is opened for traffic. 23. However, despite these efforts, NIHR, during rainfall period, observed that large amounts of rainwater gathered in residential neighborhoods, the roads leading to them, as well as the in the main streets. Despite that rainwater is seasonal and falls for short periods during the year, measures should be taken to prevent the serious damage caused by the accumulation of water. This signifies a defect in rainwater discharge network, which has a negative impact on the right to adequate standard of living. 24. NIHR observed, through various media outlets and social networks, several traffic accidents that occur frequently from time to time, which claim the lives of road commuters, including drivers and pedestrians. Examples are the accidents that result from the vehicle that fall off the bridges across the steel fences protecting the bridges or as a result of the lack of elevated bridges for pedestrians. This calls for reconsideration of road and street designs so as to satisfy international security and safety conditions. 25. On the environmental level, the Decree-Law No. 47 of 2012 Establishing and Organizing the Supreme Environment Council was issued. This Council is responsible for environment and wildlife affairs and the preparation of future strategies for the environment and sustainable development. It comprises a group of ministers, agents, parties concerned with the environment, and a number of representatives of the relevant civil society organizations. 26. The Supreme Environment Council has the power to grant licenses for projects and activities related to the environment. The Council licensed a total of two thousand and eighty-five development projects and service activities, after verifying that they meet the environmental conditions. On the other hand, thirty-four applications were rejected for non-compliance with these requirements. The Council conducts studies before granting the license to evaluate the environmental impact of the project so as to determine the potential impacts resulting from the activity of such projects and their health, economic and social effects, and make the right decision either to grant or reject the license for the project. 27. However, despite these efforts to preserve the environment, which help provide an adequate standard of living, NIHR has concerns regarding certain issues, including the increased emissions from factories near Ma’ameer area, and the impact of such omissions on air quality, odor emissions and sewage waste in Tubli Bay Area, accumulation of muddy water in Muharraq Governorate and Tubli Bay, the increasing numbers of mosquitoes, rodents and insects in Al-Buhair Valley, and the unmeasured land filling and sea dredging operations. These issues have a negative impact on the environment, marine resources and fisheries, and cause damages to the various types of environments and the marine resources along the northern and eastern coasts of the Kingdom in particular. RECOMMENDATIONS: In light of the foregoing, NIHR recommends the following: 1. Urging the legislative authority to expedite the adoption of the draft law on real estate rent in order to regulate the relationship between lessors and lessees, provide 79