Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa has praised the professional and humanitarian approach of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), the Ombudswoman’s Office, and the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission (PDRC).
This came as the minister yesterday received NIHR president Ali Al Derazi, and Ombudswoman PDRC chairperson Ghada Hamid Habib.
They reviewed the recommendations included in the reports of their recent visits to the Reform and Rehabilitation Centre, which were consistent with the programmes and recommendations of the Reformation and Rehabilitation director-general.
They discussed health services provided for inmates by the Government Hospitals administration; amending the visitation system to extend the duration of visits and adjust the terms for the visitor list; and increasing outdoor time.
“Co-ordination is underway with telecom companies to review telephone call tariffs,” they said.
General Shaikh Rashid praised co-operation between the Interior Ministry and the Education Ministry to provide programmes and educational services to inmates and facilitate their completion of their studies.
He highlighted co-ordination made with the Higher Education Council (HEC) to register 180 inmates in postgraduate programmes in various majors this year.
The minister stressed that the success of alternative penalties programme and open prisons has helped increase the number of inmates benefiting from these programmes in the next stage, in accordance with the recommendations presented by the General Directorate of Reformation and Rehabilitation.
“The development of humanitarian programmes and initiatives came within the framework of the comprehensive development process, led by His Majesty King Hamad, who established human rights institutions and supported the expansion of their role to develop the status of human rights in Bahrain,” the minister said.
Gen Shaikh Rashid highlighted the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, adding that the Reformation and Rehabilitation Directorate obtained an international accreditation from the American Correctional Association, demonstrating the commitment to achieve international quality standards.
He noted that the Interior Ministry is keen on supporting the ongoing co-operation with human rights institutions and implement humanitarian initiatives related to reform and rehabilitation centres that contribute to inmates’ reintegration into society.
Interior Ministry Under-Secretary and Reformation and Rehabilitation director-general Shaikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa attended the meeting.
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