Intervention by TI at HRC24 ,9-27/9/2013, Geneva, Item 4
Honorable President and delegates
Transparency Int. (TI ) and its Chapter ,Bahrain Transparency Society(BTS) thank you for enabling us to address HRC at crucial time for ME nations ,amongst Bahrain.
TI has adopted strategy for 2011-2015 , where it integrates its struggle against corruption, for integrity and pro-transparency, with the struggle for human rights and the rights of the people for decent living
TI and BTS believe that corruption undermine the basic rights of the citizens and residents in all countries by eating in the economy, stealing resources, undermining the development , furthering inequality and weakening the competitiveness of the economy .
Bahrain has declined in TI Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and Barometer of Corruptions steadily in the last ten years. This is in line with regress in the Reform Project ,where its road map , The National Charter , was adopted in popular referendum by 9805% in Feb, 2011.
Currently all constitutional grantees , legislations , policies and institutions have been degraded into authoritarian rule. No wonder corruptions thrived , integrity receded and transparency blurred. Year after year , The National Audit Bureau accounts for massive corruption in the state, without being really addressed and without prosecuting any official. Major state corporate such as ALBA, Gulf Air and King Hamad Hospital construction , have been riddled with corruption costing the country billions of dollars and depleting the nation economy. The last 12 y of the new Rule witnessed mass seizure of state reclaimed and terrestrial prime lands worth of tens billions of dollars ( Parliamentary Report 2010)
Bahrain, though oil country, is exceptional among Gulf countries for its shortage of infra structure, housing and decline of its health and education system.
Corruption thrives in authoritarian regime , while integrity and transparency thrives in democratic system. So the struggle of people of Bahrain for democracy and safeguarding human rights , is advocated by TI and BTS has been engaged actively in this struggle despite hazards and risks.
Thank you