Manama: The Independent Bloc, the second largest group in Bahrain's lower chamber, is calling for the establishment of permanent committees for human rights, women and children and youth and sports.
"The committees will reinforce the powers of the lawmakers in drafting laws to promote people's living conditions and their social and human rights," MP Abdullah Al Dossari said.
The human rights committee will look into all laws and legislation related to human rights and will monitor all national and international reports on the status of human rights and competent societies in Bahrain, he said. The committee will also receive observations and complaints about human rights and essential freedoms.
"The women and children committee will support the permanent committee in the Shura Council (upper chamber) and will be tasked with looking into all drafts, motions and proposals related to women and children before submitting them to the chamber," Al Dossari said.
"The committee will study all drafts and motions and issue recommendations. It will also monitor the participation of Bahrain in all regional and international events related to women and children."
Under the proposal, the youth and sports committee will study drafts and motions related to youth and sports and will issue observations and recommendations.
"It will basically seek to help promote the aspirations of young people in Bahrain in the areas of work, healthy life, sustainable development, education, training, civil and human rights, sports, recreation, sports infrastructure and sports activities," Al Dossari said.
Earlier this month, Lateefa Al Gaood, the only woman lawmaker in Bahrain's lower chamber, said that she had submitted a suggestion to set up a women and children committee. The upper chamber of the bicameral parliament set up a permanent women and children committee in 2007.
The move to set up the three permanent committees is the first major action by the Independent Bloc, a group of 12 lawmakers who won in the October parliamentary elections after running as independents.
The lower chamber, under its bylaws, has five permanent committees, legislative, finance, services, public utilities and foreign and defence affairs. New permanent committees can be formed only after the bylaws are amended.
