21st session of the
Human Right Council
Item6
UPR Bahrain
Delivered by Nada Dhaif
Thank you Madam President
My name is Nada Dhaif, Chairperson of Bravo (Bahraini Rehabilitation & Anti-Violence Organization) Let me tell you about the situation in many villages and neighborhoods. The people in the villages are not armed, their weapons are their voices.
There are no men left. Most of them are behind bars. Women are left with no income; they suffer from humiliation, blackmail, harassment and arrest and cannot protect their children. A good example is a recent case of Zainab Al-Khawaja who was injured in the leg after state security forces ordered crowd controlled forces to directly shoot at her. She was alone. She is still detained, heavily injured and without access to her family or proper medical care.
On behalf of the victims and their family we recommend the following:
1. Immediate release of all Prisoners of Conscious. All Human Rights activists should be released from detention or prison as a matter of urgency,
2. A permanent UN Human Rights office to be based in Bahrain for the purpose of monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation,
3. A special Rapporteur to be assigned to Bahrain,
4. A special hearing on Bahrain in the Human Rights Council.
5. End of reprisals against people who travel to the UPR in Geneva
Mr. Foreign Minister, you say that you care. I hold you responsible in front of this Council today. Prove to us your commitment. Release all the detainees and prisoners. Activists are not criminals.
Thank you for your time.
