The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) congratulates Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman, the head of Bahrain Interfaith and member of the advisory panel for the BCHR, for being honored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(UNHCHR) for playing a prominent role in defending and promoting human rights in the Middle East and North Africa. Among 30 other human rights activists, including Mr. Ghashir Boujomaa - Algerian lawyer and the former president of the National Association for Human Rights, Mrs. Nahla Haidar - prominent Lebanese human rights activist and a member in the committee resulting from the agreement of eliminating all discrimination forms against women, in addition to Mr. Isam Aroury - the Palestinian human rights activist and the Director-General of Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center, Al Salman has been selected by the commission to be honored. The Commission described the above mentionned human rights activits as “exceptions” in the Middle East and North Africa. They are at the forefront of the defenders of the Universal Declaration of Human rights through their work, dedication and sacrifices, characterized by their their courageous defense of the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This was announced during a ceremony held by the United Nations Office in the Middle East at the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in Jamal Abdel Nasser Hall, Beirut. The ceremony began with a speech to help the Secretary-General for Human Rights, Andrew Gilmore, on "Countering intimidation from cooperating with the United Nations in the field of human rights". The Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - Ruwaida El Hajj, the President of Beirut Arab University - Prof. Amro Jalal El Adawi, Member of the Lebanese Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights -MP Michel Moussa, delivered speeches on the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a fundamental turning point in the history of mankind.
The BCHR, headed by the prominent human rights prisoner Nabeel Rajab, seeks to spread the culture of human rights in society, especially in Bahrain. Sheikh Maytham Al Salman, a member of the advisory panel for the Center, has been imprisoned, tortured, denied from traveling during the past years because of his efforts in defending human rights issues.
