National Institution for Human Rights – Kingdom of Bahrain
38. Within the framework of NIHR mandate, the Royal Decree on the Establishment of
the National Institution grants it quasi judicial powers. Article 3, paragraph “e”, of
this Decree provides that in fulfilling its objectives, NIHR has the power to “receive,
consider and refer human rights related complaints, and refer these complaints to the
competent authorities for following them up effectively, inform the relevant parties
of the procedures of due process and help them take these procedures, or provide
assistance to settle these complaints with the concerned authorities”. Accordingly, in
2013, NIHR dealt with one hundred and eighteen complaints with varied implications
in terms of the rights claimed to have been violated. The Institution received 84
complaints related to civil and political rights; 27 complaints related to the right to
physical and moral integrity; 21 complaints related to the right to personal freedom
and security; 19 complaints concerning the right to a fair trial; 5 complaints related
to the right to citizenship; 11 complaints with regard to the right to hold public office;
and finally one complain related to the right to freedom of opinion and the right to
expression.
39. NIHR received 22 complaints on economic, social, and cultural rights with varied
implications in terms of the rights claimed to have been violated. The Institution
received 6 complaints related to adequate standard of living; seven complaints
related to the right to work, one of which was received by NIHR in 2011, but the
violated right continued until 2013; one complaint related to trafficking in persons;
four complaints related to the right to health; two complaints with regard to the right
to education; and finally two complaints related to the right to social security.
40. Moreover, NIHR received 12 complaints related to a number of issues that do not fall
within civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, either because they are
related to personal disagreements or fall beyond the Jurisdiction of NIHR.
41. The complaints received by NIHR and the measures taken will be addressed in detail
upon reviewing the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Therefore, in
this Chapter, only the number of complaints and the type of rights under which these
complaints fall will be stated, as follows:
CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
30
27
25
20
21
19
15
11
10
5
5
1
0
Right to Physical and Moral Integrity
Right to Nationality
The Right to Liberty and Security of Person
Right to freedom of opinion and expression
Right to due process
Right to hold public office
25