A coalition of non-governmental human rights groups from Europe, the U.S. and Canada called on UN member states to oppose the election of Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eritrea, the Philippines and Somalia, which were deemed "unqualified" due to their human rights records, Scoop news website reported.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Bahrain's candidacy for membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2019-2021 at a meeting held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society praised the humane stance of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, during the opening meeting of the 38th Session of the Human Rights Council. Al-Wefaq stressed that the fact that he placed Bahrain on the main agenda of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) shows the high professionalism of the Commissioner and the OHCHR in assessing the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain.

Three Bahraini human rights organizations welcomed the speech given by Zeid bin Ra’ad Al-Hussein, the current United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in the UN Human Rights Council’s 38th opening session, about the human rights situation in Bahrain. The organizations expressed gratitude that Bahrain’s situation is still among the priorities of human rights issues followed by the high commissioner in the Arab nation.

United Nations High Commissioner Zeid bin Ra'ad Al-Hussein said that Bahraini refused “unconditional access by my Office and the Special Procedures” amid continued crackdowns on civil society and additional legislation which further restricts the people's fundamental rights.

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Michel Forst expressed serious concerns regarding the wider context of a general crackdown and mounting pressure exerted on human rights defenders in Bahrain. The special rapporteur also expressed his concern over prosecution, punishment and intimidation of human rights defenders.

On May 1, 2017, the UN Human Rights Council examined Bahrain's human rights record by working group on the UPR, for the third time since the launch of this strategy. The first UPR on Bahrain was held in April 2008, while the second one was held in May 2012.

An international research concluded that a key local Emirate organization called, “Arab Federation for Human Rights (ARABFHR)” has been bribing NGOs and individuals to influence the United Nations Human Rights Council stances and decisions.

Bahrain expressed its rejection of the implementation of 36 recommendations that the Human Rights Council had recommended to Manama on May 5, during a periodic discussion of the human rights situation in the country.

A major report by the United Nations Human Rights Office (HRO) listed Bahrain as one of the countries targeting activists cooperating with the United Nations, along with group of countries including Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Permanent Representative of Bahrain at the United Nations in Geneva, Yousef Abdul Karim Bucheeri, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Danish and Irish statements, accusing them of using the UN Human Rights Council to “attack Bahrain and its human rights record”.

UN Human Rights Council President, Joaquín Maza Martelli, received Assistant Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Dosari on sidelines of 36th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The United States representative to the Human Rights Council in Geneva expressed his country’s concern about the deteriorating human rights conditions in Bahrain, calling on Manama to respect human rights and freedom of assembly and expression.

President of National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) Saeed Al-Faihani said that the 176 recommendations issued by the United Nations Human Rights Council during the universal periodic review on Bahrain’s human rights file are not binding and are not considered a condemnation to Bahrain.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid bin Raad Al Hussein, slammed Bahrain for refusing the visits of UN Special Rapporteurs to the country, for over 5 years.

Bahrain took a rare public reprimand at its United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review, said Brian Dooley, as the Bahraini government’s delegation had to sit and listen as country after country listed concerns about the country’s failure to introduce real reform despite promises made at its last UPR in 2012.

Leader in the National Democratic Action Society Wa’ad Society and prominent activist Farida Ghulam stressed that the authorities are still imposing travel ban on activists, although the human rights council session that reviewed Bahrain’s human rights record concluded.

The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR)'s delegation led by NIHR's Chairman, held a meeting with Kate Gilmore, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Wilson palace in Geneva on the sideline of the 27th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Bahrain failed another round in the United Nations. No one now believes the small state that masters falsifying recommendations and investing in the ad to waste time. 20 members wearing elegant suits and ties sat in the Human Rights Council (HRC) to be insulted. All the member-states' recommendations were on a side, and they were on the opposite one. The 20 members came to read papers like "robots". They became a mockery.

Human rights organizations called on diplomatic missions of the UN Human Rights Council member-states to intervene in the trial of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, the most prominent Shiite leader in Bahrain.