UN/1/3/49-19

The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations presents its compliments to the President of the 60th Session of the United Nations General assembly and has the honour to refer to the decision of the Kingdom of Bahrain to present its candidature for the election to the United Nations Human Rights Council, at the election to be held during the 60th session of the General Assembly on 9 May, 2006.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a firm advocate of the promotion of human rights, and attaches great importance to this issue, both domestically and internationally. Bahrain has been at the forefront of regional human rights development in the Middle East, and has substantial experience of human rights on an international level, particularly at the United Nations, having served on the Human Rights commission from 2002-2004. Bahrain also has a large and vibrant community of non-governmental organizations, a number of which are concerned with human rights issues.

The Kingdom of Bahrain strongly supports the new Human Rights Council as an effective and important international instrument to promote and protect human rights around the world, and is committed to the universal standards and values which will underpin the Council’s work.

The Kingdom of Bahrain therefore believes that Bahrain’s election to the first United Nations Human Rights Council would make a significant contribution to the Council’s work, and would enable Bahrain to use its wide experience of human rights protection to make a valuable contribution to developing the Council’s work.

The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the President of the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly to the United Nations the assurances of its highest consideration.

5 April 2006

President of the 60th Session of the
United Nations General Assembly
United Nations – New York