Adopting a new international mechanism to document violations in cooperation with an assistance tea

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) -  Mr. Hadi Al-Muswai, head of Al-Wefaq’s delegation taking part in the 21st session of Human Rights Council (HRC) has revealed an innovative method in dealing with popular complaints of violations committed by authorities in Bahrain. He and a number of activists from inside and outside the country are attending the session scheduled for 19th Sept dealing with implementation of recommendations adopted by HRC during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in May.Mr. Al-Musawi indicated that following the return to the country, the Department of Freedoms and Human Rights at the society intends to adopt a fresh mechanism  concerning the documentation of  daily violations via direct communications with teams backing of special rapporteurs or representatives for each type of violation. The new approach meets framework of work at the UN.Mr. Al-Musawi argued that the newly intended mechanism comes against a backdrop of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report submitted on 23rd November 2011, something accepted by the authorities and that of Bahrain attending the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in May 2012. Nevertheless, violations continue to take place routinely.Mr. Al-Muswai stressed that over the last few months, the society has engaged in documenting, recording and studying  violations, a method that has allowed for compilation of extensive statistics relating to numerous violations occurring in Bahrain. Amongst others, the figures point to absence of seriousness on the part of authorities to stop committing violations. He made it clear that plan was underway to train specialists to communicate and update the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council about developments relating to human rights situation in Bahrain.Mr. Al-Musawi stressed that the new method does not require what is demanded by other covenants such as ratification of the state and exhaustion of local litigation. He concluded his remarks by assuring that the new scheme calls for continuous communication of violations and thereby completing a truly legal society and certainly not a fake one./129