Bahrain: Global Crunch Affects Human Rights

On 20 February 2009, Bahrain's permanent representative to the Geneva based United Nations office, Ambassador Abdullah Abdullatif warned of the dangerous repercussions of the current global financial crisis, noting that if aggravated, the economic turndown will certainly impact people economically, politically, socially, culturally and in their civil rights as well; for all human rights are universal and indivisible. The Ambassador added, in a speech before the tenth session of the UN Human Rights Council, that 'this crisis will delay achievements', affirming that ' Bahrain, being aware of the impact of the crisis, is doing its utmost to confront it. The repercussions of the crunch have already begun to emerge at local, regional and international levels.' The Ambassador also pointed to the efforts carried out by the State in order to improve living standards, create job opportunities and provide unemployment benefits.