(1) Equality and non-discrimination: Article (3) 1.1 The right to equality and non-discrimination constitutes an integral part of the foundations of the rule of law, which is one of the main components in democratic systems, as all individuals within the State should enjoy the rights and public freedoms stipulated in its legal systems, on the basis of equality among them, without discrimination on the basis of race, gender or language, religion, belief, political difference, etc. 1.2 This is what Article No. (18) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain states, as it 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”, meaning that this equality is general and includes economic, social and cultural rights. 1.3 The international human rights instruments acceded to or ratified by the Kingdom of Bahrain also included provisions that obligate states to ensure effective equality in the enjoyment of all rights protected by those instruments without discrimination, by refraining from taking any actions, or refraining from committing acts that could create a real danger that would disrupt or impair the enjoyment of human rights and freedoms. 1.4 The NIHR commends the steps taken by the Kingdom in order to secure effective equality in the enjoyment of all rights and freedoms without discrimination, perhaps the most prominent of which is the introduction of the principle of equal opportunities, as Civil Service Instructions No. (4) of 2014 was issued regarding the establishment of the Equal Opportunities Committee in government agencies, an approach that was adopted by a number of independent official bodies and civil sector agencies in a number of private companies and institutions. 1.5 The “Equal Opportunities Committee” is a permanent committee that aims to integrate women’s needs within the framework of equal opportunities in all areas of work in government agencies, and works to achieve this goal among all employees, beneficiaries, and services provided by the entity, in cooperation and coordination with the Supreme Council for Women. It expresses opinion on issues related to integrating women's needs within the framework of equal opportunities, to ensure raising their participation rates in various vital and influential fields and sectors. Parallel Report of the National Institution for Human Rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain submitted to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR)@2021 2