Bahrain’s main rights watchdog opened up its records to share its annual report with envoys from around the world.

The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) met a host of ambassadors at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama, where copies of the report were made available in both English and Arabic, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

His Majesty King Hamad and other senior government officials have already received their copies.

NIHR president Dr Abdulaziz Abul told the GDN that the report outlined a series of new challenges that still lay ahead, as well as a number of areas of improvement.

"We have to improve ourselves and others in the community whether in government roles or others," he said.

"It is not all negatives or all positives with us - thus, when we deal with the healthcare issue it is not the whole Health Ministry under fire, it is just problems related to sickle cell anaemia patients.

"Problems are being addressed, according to category, to ensure that we get to the bottom of them and direct those concerned to resolve it."

Dr Abul said the diplomatic corps present at yesterday's meeting were very positive about the report.

"Through our partners and associates in the three branches of government - the legislature, executive and judiciary - we will hopefully have a better report for this year, and anyone should feel free to direct us if we missed or misinterpreted anything."

According to the NIHR report, it received 118 complaints from the public last year and sent 94 letters to 16 different government agencies - but received just 45 responses.

The Public Prosecution responded to 18 out of 28 requests for information, the Interior Ministry responded to nine of 27 requests, the Housing Ministry responded to two of three requests, the Health Ministry responded to two of four requests and the Supreme Judicial Council responded to two of six requests.

Thirteen requests were sent to the Education Ministry, Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry and the Interior Ministry Ombudsman, but there was only one response from each.

The Social Development Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Electricity and Water Authority, Information Affairs Authority, Alba and Bapco, meanwhile, responded to all requests.

In 49 cases no reply was received at all, despite the NIHR sending 33 reminders