An official website of the European Union. See all European Institutions
Bahrain and the EU
The Kingdom of Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy whose legal system is based upon the 2002 amended constitution and headed by King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The country has two legislative bodies: the 40-member Chamber of Deputies elected by universal suffrage and the 40-member royally appointed Shura Council. Political parties are not allowed but political societies were legalised in 2001.
In 2017 every 2 seconds one person was forced to flee their home due to war, persecution or violence. With millions of people in need on a record high the European Union continues its work with partners around the world to address the humanitarian challenges and to provide long-term support. Last year, €2 billion of the EU's humanitarian budget was allocated to help displaced people and host communities in 49 countries. And EU Member States have granted protection to more than 538 000 people.
Ten years after the EU's first landmark report on climate change and security, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, will host the high level event Climate, Security and Peace: The Time for Action on 22 June in Brussels. The high level event will bring together ministers, leading international figures, parliamentarians, think tanks and civil society to highlight the ongoing and new threats posed by climate change, consider progress made in making essential policy and operational linkages between climate and security and look at options to drive forward action. You can join and follow all the discussions using the hashtags #united4climate and #climadiplo
On 25 May, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force. The Regulation updates and modernises the principles enshrined in the 1995 Data Protection Directive to guarantee privacy rights.
From 26 February to 23 March 2018 the international community will gather in Geneva at the Human Rights Council (HRC) to discuss the world's most pressing human rights issues. "In a year, where we mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the EU reaffirms its strong support for the work of the UN human rights system," says Ambassador Peter Sørensen, Head of the EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva. "The Declaration is as valid as it was at the time of its adoption and sadly, we are far from the full respect of these commitments all over the world. Rights and freedoms are still being challenged and the space for civil society is shrinking in many countries throughout the world," he adds. Therefore, the EU will give strong priority to promoting and defending the universality of human rights and to raising the profile of human rights throughout the year.
The European Union Delegation to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar announces the launch of the ninth Edition of the Chaillot Prize for the Promotion of Human Rights in the GCC Region. The Prize honours local civil society organisations, public or private institutions, as well as individuals for their efforts in promoting general awareness of human rights and the rights of vulnerable groups in the GCC region.
