Introduction Since His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, ascended the throne in 1999, the Kingdom of Bahrain experienced major changes towards promoting greater democracy and partnership frameworks in decision making to strengthen the foundations of the rule of law, up to the constitutional amendments of 2012. These amendments strengthened the legislative and supervisory powers of the elected Council of Representatives (Majlis an-nuwab), and limited the role of the Consultative Council (Majlis al-shura) to a legislative role with no supervisory role. These amendments also addressed the need for the government, during the constitutional period, to submit its program to the Council of Representatives, where it may be accepted, or rejected. These fundamental transitions had an impact on the course of human rights and public freedoms and on the extent to which individuals enjoy these rights and freedoms in the Kingdom. Accordingly, the 2015 Third Annual Report of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) was prepared in accordance with Article No. (21) of Law No. (26) of 2014 establishing the Institution, which stipulates that: “the Council of Commissioners shall prepare an annual report on NIHR efforts, activities and other works related to human rights in the Kingdom, and any recommendations and proposals within its mandate; determine performance obstacles and any approved solutions to avoid them. The Council of Commissioners shall present its report to the King, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Council of Representatives, and the Shura Council, and shall present in parallel its report to the public opinion.” The Third Annual Report of NIHR presents a description and evaluation of the most prominent human rights situations in the Kingdom, with a review of the national organization’s efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights, taking into account the provisions of the Constitution and international instruments and standards pertaining to human rights. ‫اﻟﺘﻘﺮﻳﺮ اﻟﺴﻨﻮي اﻟﺜﺎﻟﺚ‬ ‫ﻟﻠﻤﺆﺳﺴﺔ اﻟﻮﻃﻨﻴﺔ ﻟﺤﻘﻮق اﻧﺴﻨﺎم‬ ‫ ـ ﻣﻤﻠﻜﺔ اﻟﺒﺤﺮﻳﻦ‬2015 ‫ﻟﻌﺎم‬ The report consists of four chapters preceded by an introduction. The first chapter addresses the measures taken to follow up the recommendations of the NIHR 2013 and 2014 reports. The second chapter presents the NIHR advisory opinions submitted to the legislature and the Council of Ministers (the executive branch). The third chapter reviews the role of NIHR in the promotion and protection of human rights. The final chapter, chapter four, is dedicated to presenting a number of key issues that have directly touched on the status of human rights. It illustrates the situation of human rights in the Kingdom and the reform of inmates’ rehabilitation centers (JAU). In addition, it addresses a number of rights, namely, the right to equality and non-discrimination in the enjoyment of rights, the right to a fair trial, the right to citizenship, freedom of expression and opinion, the right to access information, the right to privacy, and freedom of residence and movement. The report concludes with a number of final recommendations. In conclusion, the National Institution for Human Rights hopes that this report will be a continuation of the development of human rights reality in the Kingdom, in line with its international obligations arising out of the ratification of or accession to international human rights instruments, or the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review. NIHR looks forward to reach the best practices for the enjoyment of the various rights and public freedoms and to turn human rights into a lifestyle. 7