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Bahrain

Monthly Event Reports

August 2023 | Prisoners demanding better rights stage mass hunger strike

On 7 August, a widespread hunger strike commenced across prisons in Bahrain, intensifying throughout the month to become the largest in the nation's history. By month-end, it was reported that the strike involved more than 800 individuals, predominantly political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. They protested against poor detention conditions, including alleged torture, and inhumane treatment, demanding improved cell conditions, the right to communal prayers, eased family visit restrictions, better education facilities, and access to adequate medical care. In late August, the Bahraini government offered additional rights to address these concerns. However, the prisoners rejected the initial concessions, extending their protest as they deemed the proposed measures inadequate in addressing their concerns or ensuring their fundamental rights. After 36 days, the strike was temporarily halted on 12 September due to the worsening health of some prisoners and a revised offer from the government to improve conditions, including releasing some prisoners from solitary confinement and revising healthcare provisions. These developments have sparked international concern, and foreign governments have called on Bahrain to advance criminal justice reforms and respect human rights standards.

May 2023 | Parliament abolishes controversial sexual assault legislation

The Parliament of Bahrain voted unanimously on 21 May to abolish controversial legislation that granted pardons to perpetrators of sexual abuse who married their victims. This landmark decision by the Shura Council represents a vital step towards protecting the rights and dignity of women, addressing gender-based violence, and ensuring justice for survivors of sexual assault in Bahrain. The vote follows years of advocacy and has been widely celebrated by human rights groups who have long condemned the law for promoting impunity and further victimizing survivors. The development marks a positive step towards aligning Bahrain's legal framework with international human rights standards and ensuring justice and accountability for Bahraini citizens.

November 2022 | Formation of new Cabinet in Bahrain following non-competitive elections

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa approved the formation of a new Cabinet after reappointing Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa as Prime Minister. The cabinet’s change followed a general election on 12 November held without opposition or independent media. Voter turnout reached 70 per cent, but the authorities had made it a criminal offense to boycott the tightly controlled ballot. This was Bahrain’s third election since the 2011 demonstrations, which were driven by demands for a constitutional monarchy and further political reforms. The vote has been criticized by several human rights organizations for taking place in a climate of "political repression" following the suppression of dissent and dissolution of main opposition groups by the state, seen as the most restrictive measures since Bahrain’s return to parliamentary elections in 2002.

August 2022 | Bahraini regime continues to commit serious human rights violations

Bahrain has continued to clamp down on dissent, in particular targeting the Shia community ‐ whose members have long complained about discrimination and marginalization at the hands of the regime, which had worsened following the popular uprising and nationwide protests of 2011. Ahead of Shia religious celebrations, Bahraini authorities imposed heavy curbs on the religious freedom of the community and prevented them from participating in Ashura rituals. There are also concerns about large-scale human rights violations in detention centres, including allegations of torture. Human rights organizations continue to warn about dire conditions for prisoners of conscience in Bahraini jails.

Explore past monthly event reports

GSoD Indices Data 2013-2022

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
1 748 300
System of government
Constitutional Monarchy
Head of government
Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (since 2020)
Head of government party
Not applicable
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Two-Round System
Women in lower or single chamber
15.0%
Women in upper chamber
22.5%
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
Not applicable
Head of state
King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Selection process for head of state
Hereditary or election by hereditary state rulers
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
01/05/2017
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
79.43%
Population Tooltip
1 748 300
System of government
Constitutional Monarchy
Head of government
Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (since 2020)
Head of government party
Not applicable
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Two-Round System
Women in lower or single chamber
15.0%
Women in upper chamber
22.5%
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
Not applicable
Head of state
King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Selection process for head of state
Hereditary or election by hereditary state rulers
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
01/05/2017
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
79.43%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
No Action
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
No Action
Equal Remuneration Convention
No Action
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Arab Charter on Human Rights
State Party
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
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Jan
Feb 2024
Representation neutral Rights
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024
Representation neutral Rule of law
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024
Representation neutral Participation
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024

Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Annual value

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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