Manama: Osama bin Saleh Al Asfoor, Minister of Social Development, participated in the sixth workshop organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the ongoing preparations for the National Human Rights Plan (2027-2031). The session was held virtually in the presence of senior officials and representatives of relevant entities.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Minister emphasised the Kingdom of Bahrain's commitment to promoting the rights of priority groups, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, and children, who are afforded particular protection and support under national policies. He stated that the Ministry of Social Development, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant institutions, continues to advance social policies and national legislation to safeguard the rights of these groups, in line with Bahrain's international commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals.
He added that empowering priority groups promotes social justice, strengthens social cohesion, and reinforces equal opportunity, highlighting the importance of investing in these groups to build a more equitable and stable future. The workshop was attended by officials and representatives of ministries and relevant institutions, including members of the National Human Rights Committee. It was moderated by Dr. Arwa Hassan Al Sayed, Chief of the Human Rights Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also participating were ambassadors of allied countries accredited to Bahrain, representatives of UN agencies, and civil society organisations, totalling 240 participants. The first session focused on the legal framework and international efforts in support of priority groups. Speakers included Dr. Yousef Abdulkarim Bucheeri, Director General of Legal Affairs and Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Asad Hafeez, World Health Organisation Representative; Hamdi Adwan, Educational Programme Specialist at UNESCO; and Marine Meyer, Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the Gulf States.
The second session addressed the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. It featured Jalila Salman Shubar, Head of Special Needs Services at the Ministry of Social Development; Dr. Shaima Ali Bucheeri and Eshraq Abdulaziz Al Ameer from Government Hospitals; Dr. Sana Al Mansoori, academic and member of the Bahrain Society for Children with Behavioural and Communication Difficulties; Adel Al Mutawa from the Bahrain Mobility International Centre; and Shaikha Al Shaiba, a Paralympic activist.
The third session focused on the rights and welfare of the elderly. Participants included Ibrahim Ahmed Al Fadala, Director of Social Welfare at the Ministry of Social Development; Dr. Saeed Abbas Al Sammak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Al Hikma Association for Retirees; and Saleh Mohammed Jabr Al Musallam, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Head of the Executive Committee for Parents Care Society.
The fourth session discussed children's rights and efforts to create a safer and fairer future. Speakers included Sabah Abdulrahman Al Zayani, Chairman of the Future Youth Society and member of the National Childhood Committee; Major Fawaz Mohammed Ali, Head of the Cyberspace Child Protection Unit; Dr. Abdulrahman Al Hashemi, Deputy President of the Bahrain Association for Parents and Friends of the Disabled; and Emily Belson from the US Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
The workshop concluded with a discussion of key proposals and recommendations to strengthen the protection of priority groups and support the development of a comprehensive and sustainable human rights framework in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It forms part of the national effort to prepare the second National Human Rights Plan (2027-2031), which aims to embed human rights principles in national policies and ensure the inclusion of priority groups in sustainable development initiatives.