Bahrain Reaffirms Commitment to Developing the Justice System and Enhancing Judicial Cooperation in the Gulf

Manama, October 13 (KUNA) -- Bahrain’s Vice President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary and President of the Court of Cassation, Sheikh Khaled bin Ali Al Khalifa, reaffirmed today, Tuesday, the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to the judicial authority, its dedication to developing the justice system, consolidating the rule of law, and strengthening judicial cooperation and integration among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.

This statement was made during a speech delivered by the Vice President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary and President of the Court of Cassation, who chaired the 12th meeting of the heads of the supreme and cassation courts of the GCC member states. The meeting was attended by the heads of the supreme and cassation courts of the GCC states, including the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary and President of the Court of Cassation, Adviser Dr. Adel Bursali, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Legislative and Legal Affairs at the GCC Secretariat General, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Thani.

Sheikh Khaled emphasized the importance of this meeting, which extends the trajectory of judicial cooperation among GCC member states and reflects a shared commitment to developing the judicial system, exchanging experiences, rulings, and judicial principles, and benefiting from emerging practices in judicial fields to enhance the efficiency of judicial work.

He pointed out the convergence in legal and judicial environments among GCC member states, stressing the importance of leveraging this common ground to further unify judicial directions and principles, and to expand cooperation and coordination among courts, thereby enabling the exchange of expertise and the utilization of accumulated experiences.

He also underscored the importance of discussing the recommendations of the First Gulf Conference, particularly those related to the enforcement of judicial rulings in family matters among GCC member states, and the utilization of artificial intelligence and modern technology to develop judicial work. He noted that these topics highlight the significance of exchanging experiences and expertise among GCC member states, contributing to keeping pace with technological developments and enhancing judicial work mechanisms.

The meeting reviewed several agenda items, including the Gulf Electronic Judicial Journal, the report on the efforts of the judicial authorities in GCC member states to combat money laundering crimes for 2025, as well as the report on their efforts to combat human trafficking crimes for 2026. It also discussed the selection of the topic for the upcoming annual report for 2027.

The meeting deliberated on the Secretariat General’s proposal to establish the GCC Award for Research and Studies in Judicial Fields, recommendations from the First Annual Conference on Judicial Experiences, and an overview of emerging judicial systems. It also reviewed the annual report on judicial experiences presented in the interactive program for personnel of the supreme and cassation courts in GCC member states.

Furthermore, the meeting addressed the exchange of emerging and distinctive rulings and judicial principles, as well as court decisions based on systems and laws issued by the supreme and cassation courts of GCC member states, thereby enhancing the utilization of judicial expertise and experiences and broadening the scope of knowledge exchange among the judicial authorities in the GCC states.

Participants in the meeting reviewed several topics, including the Second Gulf Conference, titled “The Future of Judicial, Penal, and Legislative Cooperation among the GCC Member States,” the electronic platform for judicial rulings and principles in GCC member states, and the program for practical bilateral Gulf visits for personnel of the supreme and cassation courts and technical offices in GCC member states.

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