Meeting

Under the chairpersonship of Ms. Maria Khoury and membership of Dr. Hameed Ahmed Husain and Mrs. Rawdha Alaradi, the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR)’s Committee on Complaints, Monitoring and Follow-up has convened its 12^th regular meeting by teleconference.

The Committee opened its meeting by appreciating the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, in implementing a system of work from home for the ministries and government bodies and institutions, taking into account social distancing under the current situation, and praising the efforts made by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, in leading and following-up the national efforts to combat the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

The Committee praised the great attention paid by the Kingdom of Bahrain to the right to health, which was explicitly reflected by dealing with the current crisis, and valued the provision of information and statistics for all, the precautionary and preventive measures and steps taken in order to spread awareness and educate the community about this disease, and the actions taken to reduce its spread in order to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents, as well as the efforts of the relevant authorities in the country to evacuate citizens abroad.  The Committee greatly appreciated the logistical and administrative measures taken in the evacuation process in a manner that maintains health of all.

The Committee then discussed and examined the measures taken with regard to all its previous resolutions and recommendations.  It reviewed a number of complaints received, legal assistance provided and cases monitored via the media and social media in March 2020, with contents varied between the right to health and the right to physical and moral safety, where each case was discussed separately and appropriate measures were taken thereupon.  It is worth mentioning that from January to March 2019, the NIHR dealt with (23) complaints, provided (84) legal assistances and monitored (8) cases via the media and social media.  In addition, it received (247) calls through the toll-free hotline compared to the period from January to March 2020, where it received (20) complaints, provided (152) legal assistances, monitored (40) cases via the media and social media and received (422) calls via the toll-free hotline.

Based upon the Committee’s keenness to the enjoyment by all citizens and residents of their basic rights guaranteed by the constitution and relevant laws, especially those arrested in correction and rehabilitation centers, the Committee continuously and directly follows-up with those concerned with the management of correction and rehabilitation centers in order to ensure the continuation of precautionary measures to prevent infection of inmates with the Coronavirus and ensure continued provision of health services.  The Committee further appreciated the decision by the administration of Correction and Rehabilitation Centers to stop the visits indefinitely in order to maintain the safety and health of the inmates.

The Committee also discussed the cases listed in the statement of alternative penalties and measures, which contained all cases received by the NIHR from 2017 to March 2020, which are related to the application of the provisions of Law No. (18) of 2017 on Alternative penalties and measures.  In the same context, Ms. Khoury explained that the NIHR, based upon its keenness to actively participate in the application of the provisions of this Law and to contribute to the reintegration of those to whom the provisions of this law are applicable, has allocated a number of job opportunities that are in line with the goal for which the Law was enacted.

Due to the current conditions and the precautionary measures taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain to combat the Coronavirus, 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).