Terrorism and extremist ideologies threaten the very essence of human rights and compromise people’s legitimate right to live in peace and serenity, said His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa.
In a message on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which falls on of December 10, HRH the Premier urged a deep understanding of the current international developments, calling for collective work to consolidate human rights which he described as the fundamental guarantor of global peace and security.
The 2017 Human Rights Days is being observed this year under the theme “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always.”
He saluted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which enshrines noble values that epitomize the evolution of human civilization towards a peaceful world.
He urged a holistic international strategy to protect youth and future generations from erroneous ideas and stigmas unjustly attributed religions, saying that security and military approach would not alone root out the scourge of terrorism.
He hailed Bahrain’s landmark human rights strides, in the era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa.
“Bahrain, led HM the King, shares the world its strenuous efforts to protect human rights and meet international obligations, aware of the crucial importance of human dignity and coexistence between human beings”, he said.
HRH the Premier said that Bahrain takes pride its human rights record which is based on constitutional and legal pedestals that value human rights, while consolidating national unity and protect the country’s security, stability and social cohesion.
He underlined Bahrain’s active UN role in disseminating and consolidating cooperation between civilisations and cultures and contributing to achieving the pillars of a secure life towards strengthening people’s ability to meet sustainable development goals.
“Bahrain’s respect of human rights stems from the Islamic precepts which advocate communication between people to ensure the well-being of humanity”, he said, hailing the rich cultural, intellectual and religious cohesion of Bahraini society which, he said, set a model, down historical epochs, for co-existence and fraternity based on allegiance to the homeland and dedication to national progress and prosperity.
In his address, HRH the Premier commended the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) and civil society institutions, hailing their strenuous efforts to disseminate the culture of human rights within society and reveal Bahrain’s honourable record to the world.
“The universality of Human rights will be the catalyst to support all initiatives aimed at developing societies and eliminating the causes of conflicts that fuel violence and terrorism”, he said.
HRH the Premier reiterated his warning against attempts to exploit the lofty values of human rights and transform them into a pretext to compromise people’s present and future.
“Achieving justice and equality and disseminating the culture of peace, human rights and tolerance and renouncing terrorism and violence represent the way forward to achieve sustainable development, security and peace in the world”, he said.

Source: BNA