Bahrain: 9th EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue held in Brussels
The European Union and the Kingdom of Bahrain held their 9th Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels on 11 February 2026, in a constructive and candid atmosphere.
The two sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to continue an open dialogue to address challenges and exchange best practices on human rights issues on the basis of mutual respect.
The meeting covered a broad range of topics, such as rule of law and right to a fair trial, including certain individual cases, death penalty, freedom of expression, assembly and association, combatting trafficking in persons, labour rights, women’s rights and empowerment, children’s rights and human rights in the digital era.The two sides emphasised the importance of continued cooperation in the multilateral fora, particularly in the context of Bahrain’s non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council and GCC Presidency.
The EU acknowledged progress Bahrain has achieved in women's and children’s rights, combatting trafficking in persons, and recognised ongoing efforts to promote social and economic rights, freedom of religion or belief and peaceful coexistence.
The EU welcomed the pardons of more than 5000 prisoners in Bahrain in 2024 and 2025 and encouraged Bahrain to further align its policies with international human rights law, particularly regarding human rights defenders, freedom of expression, assembly and association, civil and political rights, with a view to upcoming elections in the country in November 2026. The EU also called on Bahrain to ratify the remaining core international human rights instruments and to strengthen further cooperation with the UN Special Procedures.
The EU and Bahrain agreed to further deepen their cooperation - among others - on digital rights, combatting trafficking in persons and labour rights.
The Dialogue was co-chaired by Anna-Maria Panagiotakopoulou, Head of Division Arabian Peninsula & Iraq, European External Action Service and H.E. Ambassador Dr. Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri, Director General of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The next Human Rights Dialogue will be held in Manama in the end of 2026 or beginning of 2027.