Introduction 1. The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) of the Kingdom of Bahrain submits its parallel report on the Initial Report of the Kingdom of Bahrain regarding the progress made in the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Kingdom acceded to under Law No. (56) of 2006. 2. The NIHR appreciates the efforts made by the Kingdom to submit its initial report to the Human Rights Committee - although it was submitted late - believing in the significance and effectiveness of this international mechanism toward promoting and protecting human rights at the national level, and meeting its international obligations under the ratification or accession to the core international human rights instruments. 3. In 2016, the NIHR received a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting the Institution’s observations on the draft initial report of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The NIHR provided its detailed observations on the draft initial report (introductory) with regard to both structure and substance.1 4. The NIHR submits its parallel report on the progress made in the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, referring to the issues listed in the initial report of the 1 Attached NIHR preliminary observations on the draft initial report of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Parallel Report by the National Institution for Human Rights of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Human Rights Committee © 2018 2