October 20, Geneva (BNA): As part of the 151st General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Bahrain’s parliamentary delegation attended the Forum of Women Parliamentarians’ second session.
Bahrain highlights child protection, anti-trafficking at IPU Forum
Bahrain’s parliamentary delegation and Shura Council member Hala Ramzi Fayez emphasized that parliaments have the power to establish humanitarian and legal frameworks that uphold justice and shield children from unauthorized adoption. She emphasized that safeguarding the rights of children is an essential component of Bahrain’s broader humanitarian and human rights initiatives. She went on to say that combating illicit adoption is a high national priority, demonstrating Bahrain’s dedication both domestically and internationally to protecting children’s best interests and defending them against all types of exploitation and abuse.
Fayez clarified that unlawful overseas adoption undermines a child’s right to identification, belonging, and family in addition to being a procedural infraction. According to her, many families endure for years without knowing what happened to their children because some were stolen from their moms by deceit, coercion, or document fraud.
She claimed that because they are female lawmakers, they approach this matter with a greater sense of humanity, pointing out its close ties to motherhood, justice, and the child’s right to be cherished and safeguarded rather than sold or taken away.
By supporting the designation of illegal adoption as a type of child trafficking and demanding that victims be given access to their original identities, records, and family roots with dignity and respect, Fayez emphasized that it is the duty of female lawmakers to acknowledge and address this issue.
She also emphasized the value of restorative justice and support, which includes giving victims and their family legal, social, and psychological help. In order to assist rebuild trust and give victims a path to recovery by acknowledging their pain, she proposed the potential creation of truth and reconciliation commissions or restorative justice procedures under state oversight.
Fayez emphasized the importance of prevention through international collaboration, supervision, and regulation. In order to ensure that adoption is only used as a last resort after all domestic care options have been exhausted, she called for the creation of laws that guarantee transparency in legal adoption, proper implementation and enforcement, stringent regulation of agencies and intermediaries, and alignment with international conventions.
In order to track cross-border trafficking networks and promote information sharing, she also urged multinational collaborations. In her closing remarks, Fayez expressed faith in the capacity of legislatures and parliaments to enact robust legal and humanitarian protections for children and guarantee that adoption stays an act of love and care rather than exploitation or trafficking.
