Meeting

The National institution for Human Rights (NIHR)’s Committee on Complaints, Monitoring and Follow-up has convened its 21^st regular monthly meeting via teleconference under the chairpersonship of Ms. Maria Khouri and membership of Dr. Hameed Ahmed Husain, Mr. Ammar Al-Bannai and Mrs. Rawdha Al-Aradi. 

The Committee opened its meeting by congratulating the wise leadership and the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the occasion of the new Georgian year, wishing everyone continued health and wellness.  It also praised the health measures taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain by all the relevant authorities since the start of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, which are still continued to combat the outbreak of the emerging pandemic and limit its spread, the latest of which was the launch of the national vaccination campaign.  In the same context, the Committee appreciated the provision of the vaccine on a free-of-charge basis to the citizens and residents alike, stressing that this reflects the keenness of the leadership of the Kingdom of Bahrain to ensure that everyone have access to the right to health without discrimination.  At the same time, the Committee praised the measures taken to provide optional vaccination to male and female inmates, which constitutes an advantage in providing healthcare to everyone without exception.

The Committee then discussed all its previous resolutions and recommendations and the actions taken thereupon, especially those related to following up the development of the health status of female inmates in the Foreign Female Inmates Shelter and Deportation Centre, after a number of them have earlier been infected with the Coronavirus (Covid-19), in order to ensure that they received the necessary medical care in accordance with the standard health protocol.  This was during the visit conducted by the NIHR Board of Commissioners members during December.

The Committee reviewed a statistic to compare the number of complaints received, legal aids provided and cases monitored via the media and social media between the two years 2019 and 2020.  It revealed an increase in the number of legal aids received in 2020 by 73% and a decrease in the number of complaints for the duration from January 2020 till the end of the year by 30% in comparison with the same duration in 2019, where the NIHR monitored (63) cases, received (1001) calls via the toll-free hotline, received (67) cases via the email and smart phone applications in 2019 and monitored (118) cases via the media and social media, which represents an increase by 87% in comparison to 2019.  In addition, the NIHR received (1729) calls via the hotline and (139) cases via the email and smart phone applications, which represents an increase over 100% in the electronic use of the services provided.  This reveals the NIHR’s support in dealing with the developments and facilities provided via electronic applications as well as its seriousness in dealing with the various cases received by it and working to settle them by communicating with the relevant authorities in full transparency and professionalism to ensure that everyone have access to their basic rights guaranteed under the Constitution and the relevant national, regional and international laws.

The Committee discussed the new cases received by the NIHR related to the implementation of the provisions of the Law (18) of 2017 on Alternative Sanctions and Measures, in preparation for addressing the concerned authorities regarding those cases.

Due to the current conditions and the precautionary measures taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain to combat the Coronavirus (Covid-19), in compliance with the directives and guidelines of the official authorities to limit the spread of the virus, based upon its keenness to the health and safety of everyone, the NIHR continues the provision of its services through the smartphone mobile application (NIHR Bahrain), its website (www.nihr.org.bh) or the toll-free hotline (80001144).