Meeting

The Complaints, Monitoring and Follow-up Committee in the NIHR held its monthly ordinary meeting under the chairpersonship of Ms. Maria Khouri.  The meeting was attended by Committee members Dr. Hameed Ahmed Hussein and Dr. Mona Hijris. The members confirmed that it is important to communicate and follow up with all competent entities after studying the various complaints and the assistance requests received by the Institution,  in addition to monitoring the cases and claims of human rights violations reported in  the press, media and social media. The complaints have varied during the last period including requests for continuing to study while in detention, requests of receiving necessary medical treatment, claims of ill-treatment, as well complaints about visitation procedures in the Dry Dock Detention Center.

The Committee reviewed a proposal submitted by the Secretariat-General on controls on granting temporary permits for inmates in the Correction & Rehabilitation Center to attend funerals of deceased relatives and decided to return the proposal to the Secretariat-General for further study and clarification so that the proposal is in line with relevant international standards, taking into account the specificity of local procedures.

It should be noted that during January the Committee on Complaints, Monitoring and Follow-Up received 3 complaints and 100 requests for assistance and legal advice. It is worth mentioning that apart from receiving complaints related to human rights from citizens and residents and studying, examining, and determining the best ways to deal therewith and follow-up effectively, the Committee  monitors cases of human rights violations in the kingdom and presents the proposals related to the initiatives with a view of  putting an end to such breaches. Among the Committee’s plans is to conduct field visits in accordance with the applicable principles to monitor the situations of human rights in correctional institutions, places of detention, labor gatherings, health and educational centers, all  in coordination with the official authorities concerned. The Committee receives complaints and requests for assistance in accordance with its competence at the NIHR headquarters in the Seef District or via its website: www.nihr.org.bh.