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NIHR appreciates HM King's directives on alternative punishment

The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) appreciates the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, to the Government to enhance its capabilities to enable the effective application of the provisions of Alternative Penal Code.

For her part, Ms. Maria Khoury, Chairperson of the NIHR, stressed the importance of application of the provisions of the Law No. (18) of 2017 on Alternative Punishments and Measures, and provision of rehabilitation measures and programs appropriate to the personal conditions of convicts that are to be reformed and reintegrated into society, as per the directives of His Majesty the King.

Ms. Khoury also pointed out that the High Royal Directive is deemed as a confirmation of the King’s interest in the standards and principles of human rights, and an important source of protection and promotion of human rights, provision of security and safety in society and consolidation of the pillars of rights and justice, where the Alternative Penal Code is deemed as a new addition to the human rights record of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as it seeks to achieve the desired goals of punishment, rehabilitate the perpetrators and integrate them into society and disseminate the spirit of tolerance, love, responsibility and community partnership among members of society, considering that alternative punishments is a successful measure and a sound foundation for the principles of justice aiming to combat crime and prevent its repetition.

The Chairperson of the NIHR added that introducing alternative punishments is a qualitative step that ensures diversity of penalties in commensuration with personal conditions of convicts, accomplishes the purposes for which they were established and works to rehabilitate them, enables them to coexist within society and provides them with assistance and support.  Such alternative punishments include community service, house arrest in certain places, prohibition of entry to specific places, pledge not to be exposed to certain people or bodies or contact them, electronic surveillance, rehabilitation and training programs and repair of damage caused by crime.