The NHRI Participates in a Conference Titled "The Effectiveness of Ombudsman in Institutional Work and Their Role in Promoting Human Rights"
 

Manama - A delegation from the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), headed by H.E. Fatima Al Kaabi, Deputy Chairperson of the NHRI, participated in a conference titled "The Effectiveness of Ombudsman in Institutional Operations and their Role in Promoting Human Rights", held in Bahrain's capital, Manama, on 18-19 October, 2023. The conference was organised by the Independent Ombudsman Office, marking its tenth anniversary.

The conference witnessed the participation of several human rights experts, representatives from Ombudsman offices, national human rights institutions, national committees concerned with human rights regionally and internationally, government entities, and civil society organisations in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The conference aims to discuss and exchange ideas related to the work of Ombudsman offices worldwide and their role in promoting and protecting human rights. The interactive sessions held during the two-day conference covered the historical aspects of Ombudsman offices, the standards and mechanisms governing their work, and opportunities for common cooperation with international entities. The conference also serves as a platform for communication among those involved in human rights to exchange expertise and opinions on human rights issues.

H.E. Fatima Al Kaabi, Deputy Chairperson, emphasised that the conference presents an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas on the current developments of national institutions responsible for protecting human rights, including the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is dedicated to protecting and enhancing individuals' rights in their interactions with the government. The NHRI is closely following these developments, as this is the second participation of the NHRI in a conference related to the Ombudsman system, following the conference held in the Kingdom of Morocco last February.

H.E. also highlighted the United Nations' interest in the Ombudsman institutions and the various ways to enhance their role, in accordance with the “Venice Principles” regarding the independence of these institutions, which places them in a prominent position regionally and internationally.

The NHRI delegation included H.E. Maryam Al Ahmadi, Head of the International Relations and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee; H.E. Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Noman, Board of Trustees member, and Ms. Alya Almaazmi - Section Head of Committee Affairs Department - Acting Director of the Council and its Committees Office.

It is worth noting that the Ombudsman is one of the national human rights institutions, for which the Venice Principles were issued, which defined the outlines of its independence and its role in enhancing the rights of individuals in their interactions with the government and to ensure fair treatment while upholding the principles of justice and fairness.