Luanda, Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Division, and Head of the Division’s delegation of Bahrain, participated in the 147th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Al Musallam stressed that stability in the Middle East will not be achieved without securing the rights of the Palestinian people.
The Kingdom of Bahrain under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and with the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister remains committed to its firm stances regarding the Palestinian cause.
In his speech at the IPU General Assembly, Al Musallam condemned the suffering of the Palestinian people caused by violence and killings by the aggressor.
He criticised the double standards in dealing with the rights of the Palestinian people and the continuous violation of international humanitarian law.
“What peace are we talking about in our conference today while there are ongoing violations and use of internationally prohibited weapons against the Palestinians? What strong organisations and effective public administration is working for the interest of everyone without excluding anybody?”, he said.
The speaker urged members of parliaments in all countries of the world, as representatives of people, to unite and work together for peace, security, and stability.
Objectively and comprehensively speaking of achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will then follow, he said.
The speaker emphasised the importance of protecting Palestinian civilians, the escalation, lifting the siege, and preventing violence that threatened regional security and stability.
He affirmed that the parliamentary division of the Kingdom of Bahrain supported HM the King’s speech of the Cairo Peace Summit in categorically rejecting the displacement of Gazans and emphasising the importance for securing urgent humanitarian corridors for aid, while asserting that the two-state solution as a guarantee of coexistence in the region.
The speaker commended the speech of the President of Angola in which he affirmed his support for a peaceful political solution to the Palestinian cause based on the two-state solution, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and granting the Palestinian people all their rights, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy.
The Speaker of the Council of Representatives emphasised that the SDGs goal 16 (on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels) cannot be achieved as war crimes continued against the Palestinian people; who are experiencing grave violations, killings, starvation, displacement, and collective punishment.
The speaker said that the current session of the IPU general assembly came amidst common international developments and humanitarian and economic challenges that affect the present and the future of the coming generation.
This necessitates working on achieving goal 16 and the need for effective public administration that works towards achieving the interest of all without expectations, he said.
Al Musallam reiterated Bahrain’s position on the optimal approach to resolve crises and overcome challenges through upholding international law, non-interference in internal affairs of states, consensus on effective mechanisms to avoid future conflicts, directing resources for the benefit of humanity and strengthening human solidarity.
This is in addition to consolidating the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, dialogue and strengthening partnership in national decision making.
He highlighted Bahrain’s commitment to achieving SDGs, which was demonstrated by submitting the Second Voluntary Review for the Sustainable Development Goals (2023) and integrating sustainability in its government policies.
He noted that the Government Plan (2023-2026) carried the theme “From Recovery to Sustainable Growth” and that a sustainable development ministry was established in Bahrain last year.
In June 2022, a new ministry, the “Ministry of Sustainable Development,” was established, confirming Bahrain’s commitment to sustainable development, he said.
The speaker said that Bahrain has established numerous national mechanisms, including the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), which is mandated by law to achieve its goals with independence and transparency, in line with the Paris Principles.
The establishment of the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission (PDRC), the Ombudsman Office, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), and other institutions has proven the effectiveness of human rights work in Bahrain, the speaker said.
Al Musallam added that Bahrain has implemented numerous laws promoting human rights and justice and approved the National Human Rights Plan (2022-2026) in collaboration with the United Nations Resident Coordinator.
Source: Bahrain News Agency