NIHR’s Committee on Visiting Detention Places and Facilities Convenes its 25th Meeting via Video Conference
06 May 2021
The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR)’s Committee on Visiting Detention Places and Facilities has convened its 25th meeting via video conference under the chairpersonship of Dr. Malallah Al-Hammadi and membership of Mr. Khaled Al’Sha’er, Dr. Fawzeya Al-Saleh and Mrs. Deena Al-Ladhi.
The Committee opened its meeting by reviewing all its previous resolutions and recommendations and the actions taken thereupon. The, it discussed the course of the field visit that was recently conducted to the Correction and Rehabilitation Centre in the Jaw region, in light of Covid-19 virus infection reports among the centre’s inmates. During the visit, the Committee ensured the provision of the necessary health care as well as isolation and quarantine procedures. The Committee found that the precautionary measures have been properly taken by the administration of the centre with the aim of preventing the spread of the virus among the inmates, and that all necessary measures and precautions have been taken regarding conducting examinations or taking the vaccine upon consent. In addition, a field hospital was established to handle the infected and contact cases, and the Centre’s administration has taken precautionary measures with the staff, visitors and all those dealing with the Centre. The committee also met with some inmates and their families, who in turn appreciated the efforts and measures taken by those concerned at the Centre.
The Committee also reviewed the course of the visit conducted to Women Shelter and Deportation Centre, with the aim to examine the living conditions therein and to closely examine the actions taken by the Centre’s administration to confront the Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) and the extent of adherence to human rights standards in dealing with detainees. During the visit, the Committee verified that some of the allegations received by the NIHR were incorrect, especially those related to the presence of overcrowding among women inmates and the failure to provide adequate food, as it was found that the Centre’s management adhered to all precautionary and preventive measures issued by the competent authorities with the aim of limiting the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19). In addition,
the Committee met with a number of Muslim and non-Muslim female inmates, where all of them praised the quality of the food provided to them and the good treatment they receive from the concerned officials in the center. By visiting the rooms designated for female inmates, it became clear that there is no overcrowding, taking into consideration the size and space of the rooms. The committee also reviewed the list of foods provided to everyone, whether during Iftar or Suhur for Muslim women, or the three meals for non-Muslim women, and found that the food is sufficient and variable to everyone.
