Human rights and democracy are fundamental to the values the UK champions on the world stage. That is why I am glad Bahrain is a human rights priority country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
The UK Government’s relationship with the Government of Bahrain allows it to speak honestly about a range of issues, including human rights and press freedom, and it does not shy away from sharing concerns at a senior level. The UK has urged the Government of Bahrain to protect freedom of expression for all its citizens in line with its international commitments. The UK's position on the use of the death penalty is also longstanding and clear. The UK opposes its use in all circumstances and countries.
The UK will continue to support Bahraini-led reform by providing a range of technical expertise to promote the rule of law and further develop the work of Bahrain’s human rights oversight bodies. I believe that working together in this way offers the best opportunity to see the positive changes which the Government of Bahrain has committed to implementing, including on international agendas such as women’s empowerment and combating modern slavery.
