A report of Bahrain’s commitment situation towards UN Convention against Corruption

The Americans for Democracy and Human Rights Institute on 15 June 2015 highlighted the civil society’s report on the implementation of chapter 2 (prevention) and chapter 3 (crimes and application of the law) of the UN Convention against Corruption. The Kingdom of Bahrain on 8 February 2005 ratified this Convention, which mandates signatories to confront all forms of governmental corruption such as fraud, stealing, and embezzlement. But in spite of ratifying the Convention, governmental corruption in Bahrain is left unchecked and the Bahraini royal family routinely dips into the government’s treasury, which apparently are their personal bank accounts. According to the report due to the lack of political will, not only has Bahrain not made any notable improvements towards the development of a legal framework for the implementation of chapter 2 (preventive measures) and chapter 3 (crimes and application of the law) of the Convention against Corruption, but the only apparent improvement that it has made is the adoption of a national strategy against corruption between 2013 and 2018.
The report states that institutionalized measures for the prevention of corruption in Bahrain is only reflected in some of the constitution’s regulations the aim of which is the guaranteeing of the independence of the Judiciary. Nonetheless, the Constitution’s framework with the aim of prevention of corruption within the Judiciary is contradictory. Because all judges are appointed with on the direct orders of the Sultan. The situation in Bahrain will get worse when it reaches the promotion of the participation of civil society in the fight against corruption which is stated in Article 13 of the Convention against Corruption. In other words, the crucial role of individuals, civil society organizations, society-based organizations, and nongovernmental organizations in the prevention of corruption and raising public awareness plus in spite of the guarantee of freedom of expression and assembly in the Bahraini Constitution the observation of such regulations are disregarded. Instead, these rights and the civil society environment is heavily restricted and greatly undermines the activities of civil society organizations.
In its report, the Americans for Democracy and Human Rights Institute states that Bahrain government’s disregard for the Convention against Corruption, with regards to chapter 3 which is on criminalization and application of the law is also commonplace. When there are mechanisms within the Kingdom which gives the Sultan and royal family permission to use pubic property. The report states that Act No. 32 of 2010 deems enrichment and wealth illegal, and states that high government officials must disclose their financial affairs. Nevertheless, there is no trace of such measures and lack of transparency is still a crucial subject in Bahrain.

https://www.adhrb.org/2023/06/civil-society-reportcorruption-in-bahrain/
United Nations Convention against Corruption (UN-CAC)