BAHRAIN

Motion Text

That this House notes the positive developments on Bahrain over the past three years, including the release of political prisoners, the return of exiles and the repeal of the State Security Law; welcomes the ending of the state of emergency that had been in force since the suspension in 1975 of some articles of the 1973 constitution and the dissolution of the elected parliament; takes account of the promises given by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa prior to the public endorsement of the National Charter on 14th February 2001; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to assist the process of reform in Bahrain by providing models of good governance, which exclude gracious acts and decrees not sanctioned by law, permit the removal of governments by popular elections, promote equality of opportunity in employment and access to public services, grant citizenship only on the basis of the law and refrain from using public funds to promote the interests of one sector of society.