Human Rights Council
54rd session
Interactive dialogue on the Secretary-General’s report on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights
28-29 September 2023
Intervention by Denmark
Mr. President,
Denmark remains highly concerned that the report before us once again lays out a very high number of reported acts of intimidation and reprisal by State and non-State actors against individuals or groups having cooperated with the UN.
Mr. President,
I specifically wish to draw your attention to the situation of Mr. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who is mentioned in the report.
Mr. Al-Khawaja is a human rights defender and a dual-citizen of Bahrain
and Denmark. Since 2011, he has been serving a life sentence in Bahrain
on terrorism related charges.
This is the fifth time since 2011 that Mr. Al-Khawaja’s name is mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General, on allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and heavy sentencing. However, Mr. Al-Khajawa is still in detention and his health status and access to adequate medical care remain a source of serious concern.
Furthermore, we note other cases of concern in Bahrain. This year, we have reportedly witnessed the largest hunger strike in the history of Bahrain, with inmates – including Mr. Al-Khawaja – protesting against arbitrary detention and demanding better conditions in prison.
Throughout the years, Denmark has continuously called for the release
of Mr. Al-Khawaja without further delay and we do so again here today.
We call on Bahrain and all other States to release all human rights defenders
imprisoned for excising their fundamental freedoms and for States to
refrain from any act of intimidations and reprisals against human rights
defenders.
Thank you.
