Advancing shared strategic goals with the United States and Israel is just one of the many benefits of peace. Thanks to the Abraham Accords, and the launch of direct Gulf Air flights from Tel Aviv to Manama in September 2021, Israeli tourists were able not only to attend the F1 season opener in Bahrain on March 20, but also to demonstrate to Bahrainis first-hand the benefits of peace. Such moments serve as a reminder of the work that our countries need to do to foster an environment in which all stakeholders may realize the full potential of these agreements.

Over the past decade, Bahrain has labored to strike the right balance between fostering tolerance and maintaining stability. The need to confront the organized use of violence stemming from foreign interference should not come at the expense of civil rights for the citizens of Bahrain. The imperative of “getting human rights ‘right’” represents one of our most challenging national priorities.

It is with this goal in mind that our leadership has been working intensively over the past eighteen months to develop a National Action Plan for Human Rights. Put simply, the status quo is untenable. Although we have instituted deep-seated and far-reaching reforms since His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa launched his political reform project over 20 years ago, Bahrain has continued to find ways to broaden the political space for citizens to create a level of openness, transparency, accountability and collaboration that allows all Bahrainis to thrive and prosper.

Over the past decade, Bahrain has taken bold steps to establish oversight and accountability bodies, notably the Special Investigation Unit in the office of the Attorney General and the Ombudsman Office, which remains the first and only institution of its kind in the region. The National Action Plan is another product of Bahrain’s ongoing process where we ask ourselves the hard questions. This no-holds-barred self-examination has produced a whole-of-government overhaul that we believe will put Bahrain on a path toward a more inclusive and participatory body politic.

The process of developing the National Action Plan has involved the active and enthusiastic participation of not only key Bahraini stakeholders such as the Ministries of Interior and Justice and civil society, but also of international partners from the United Nations, the U.S. Department of State and leading NGOs. More than 1,700 local and foreign participants took part in nine workshops and came up with more than 300 recommendations. The plan was later drafted in coordination with the U.N. Resident Coordinator.

Among the plan’s highlights are legislative reforms that provide for greater freedom of expression and political participation, empowerment of civil society organizations, developing a regulatory framework for human rights defenders and excluding children from anti-terrorism laws. Oversight mechanisms for the security services will include more training of law enforcement officers and expanded CCTV surveillance and inspection of correctional facilities and interrogation rooms. The government will work to limit the scope of criminalization of certain activities that may interfere with the right to freedom of expression and other political rights. The Ministry of Justice will implement a comprehensive alternative sentencing program to reduce incarceration levels.

The release of the plan is just the beginning—a team led by the foreign minister that includes all segments of Bahraini society will ensure the plan’s implementation according to strict and specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and will review its progress on a regular basis. Bahrain has a long track record of progressive, precedent-setting policymaking. In 2001, it took the bold step of creating a freely elected national legislature with real power. A few years later, it initiated Vision 2030, the region’s first comprehensive economic reform program to boost GDP and employment by diversifying the economy away from oil dependency and stimulating the private sector. And last year, it demonstrated considerable courage and foresight in making peace with Israel.

In a spirit of openness and partnership, we will apply these lessons learned in dealing with our internal challenges, and we will emerge stronger for it.

Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa is ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States.

The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.