decisions made by this body regarding the electoral process should
be subject to judicial oversight to ensure the trust of voters and the
public in the outcomes of the process.
Third: The preparatory measures undertaken by the former National Institute
for Human Rights (NIHR) to monitor the electoral process.
11.
In continuation of the reform approach led by His Majesty King
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, which included the adoption of the National
Action Charter in 2001, the revival of parliamentary life, and the
holding of parliamentary and municipal elections for the first time in
2002. Subsequently, elections were held every four years in 2006,
2010, and supplementary elections in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018, and
most recently in 2022, where parliamentary and municipal elections
were held on November 12, 2022, followed by runoff elections on
November 19, 2022. These elections resulted in the formation of the
Council of Representatives and the three municipal councils
distributed across the Kingdom's provinces.
12.
According to the powers granted to the NIHR under Article 12,
paragraph (h) of Law No. 26 of 2014 establishing the NIHR, as
amended by Decree Law No. 20 of 2016, the NIHR is tasked with:
"Monitoring cases of human rights violations, conducting necessary
investigations, drawing the attention of relevant authorities to
these cases, and providing proposals related to initiatives aimed at
addressing these situations. When necessary, expressing an opinion
on the stance of these authorities and their responses."
9