Bahrain decides to teach democracy, human rights

The government of Bahrain has approved a suggestion by the parliament to teach the subject of "democracy and human rights in the state run preparatory and secondary schools."

Bahrain's official news agency said on Sunday that the cabinet also approved the proposal of the parliament over measures to be taken by the government to teach democracy and human rights subject compulsorily in the course of learning curricula of preparatory and secondary schools. The agency has not explained the date to start teaching these subjects in schools nor given other additional details.

Human rights in Bahrain have witnessed remarkable progress since King Hamad Bin Issa al-Khalifa launched political reforms and the foundation of the first independent society for human rights by the beginning of 2001.

Besides this society, other three are also active in the same field: Bahrain Center For Human Rights which was closed by the authorities by the end in 2004 but continues activities, Bahrain Public Freedoms Society. and the Society For Monitoring Human Rights which was established in September 2004.