b. Develop, promptly, a National Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Persons by the competent authorities as prescribed in the provisions of Law No. (1) of 2008 regarding Combating Trafficking in Persons, in cooperation with constitutional authorities, the National Institution for Human Rights and relevant civil society organizations. c. Take the necessary measures by the competent authorities to ensure that the NIHR is represented in the “National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons”, given its role in the promotion and protection of human rights. 3 Participation in political and public life5 3.1 Paragraph (e) of Article No. (1) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain stipulates: “Citizens, both men and women, are entitled to participate in public affairs and enjoy their political rights, including the right to vote and the right to contest for elections, in accordance with the present Constitution and the conditions and principles laid down by law. No citizen can be deprived of his right to vote or to contest for elections except by law”. 3.2 Since the first stages of the reform project led by His Majesty the King, starting with the approval of the National Action Charter in 2001 and holding of parliamentary and municipal elections in 2002, and the subsequent parliamentary and municipal elections every four years, ending with this year’s elections that took place on November 12, 2022, and the runoff election held on November 19, 2022, women have enjoyed the right to vote and to be elected, including the tangible results they have achieved as being members of the Council of Representatives and municipal councils. 3.3 In the parliamentary elections of 2018, six women were able to reach the Council of Representatives out of (40) seats, and a woman was elected for the first time to head the elected council (Council of Representatives), which gives her by virtue of the Constitution the Presidency of the National Council (the legislative power). Regarding the municipal elections, (4) women 5 In the context of its broad mandate in the field of promoting and protecting human rights, the NIHR observed the parliamentary and municipal elections of 2018, and prepared a detailed report on the course of the entire electoral process, whether prior, during, or post-election day, including its relevant recommendations. This report is included in its sixth annual report for the year 2018, published on the NIHR’s website: Annual Reports Section: www.nihr.org.bh 9