Human rights defenders taking part in Bahrain UPR

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2012-018-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2012
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 26.0667

Longitude: 50.5577

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Bahrain
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • UN Human Rights Council: Council Presidency
Dates of prior UN action
25 May 2012
Type of record
Unnamed individual/group/organization
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Type of rights defended
  • Unclear in SG Report
Was the victim a civil servant, member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

human rights defenders in Geneva who had provided information for the consideration of Bahrain in the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review

Engagement with UN body
  • UN Human Rights Council: UPR
Dates of engagement
21 May 2012
Type of attempted engagement
  • Participation in meeting on UN premises
  • Submission of information to UN
Dates of mentioned reprisals
around 21 May 2012; 26 May 2012
Reprisal information

Reportedly, a number of Bahraini newspapers, including El Watan and the Gulf Daily News published articles labelling human rights defenders in Geneva who had provided information for the consideration of Bahrain in the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review as “traitors”. Individuals who had been present at the universal periodic review session were described as the “disloyal bunch” whose mission it was to “tarnish Bahrain‟s reputation”. Human rights defenders attending the universal periodic review session expressed fears over their security and possible reprisals upon their return to Bahrain.

Reportedly, the Ministry of Interior of Bahrain stated on 26 May 2012 that those returning from Geneva may be investigated for having slandered their country.

Types of reprisals suffered
  • Defamation / Defamation campaign
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
Alleged/likely perpetrators
Both state and non-state actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
No
Further case development

An exchange of letters between the Permanent Representatives of Bahrain and of Jordan (in its capacity as Chair of the Arab Ambassadors Council) and the President of the Human Rights Council, in consultation with the Bureau, subsequently took place on this matter. A meeting was also held in this regard.

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No
How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
0