STATE-OF-THE-ART children’s courts that opened yesterday ensures swift justice and places Bahrain among the leading countries in protecting children’s rights, said senior judiciary members.
The restorative justice courts (high and lower) will deal with crimes committed by children aged under 18.
Consideration will be given to the psychological state of the children involved, and the minors’ interests will be protected in all rulings or procedures.
Public Prosecutor Ahmed Hamad Al Fadhel said the new child courts will help clear a backlog of pending cases.
“The establishment of the restorative justice courts for children is a major improvement in the courts system,” Mr Al Fadhel told the GDN yesterday.
“This helps set the path for swift justice to be delivered through a specialised judicial authority with the child’s best interest in mind.”
He added that the courts are designed to operate differently from the traditional judicial system.
“The child courts focus on psychological state of the children and what is in their best interest.”
The GDN was given a tour of the new facility yesterday at the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry complex in the Diplomatic Area.
It includes a special seating area outside the courtrooms for parents, children and their lawyers – to avoid a cramped hearing especially due to Covid-19 restrictions.
In addition, monitors have been placed inside and outside the courtrooms to display sessions details.
Meanwhile, High Reform Justice Court Judge Mohammed Al Ajlan said that a judicial committee tasked with replacing children’s court sentences has started its work.
“The replacement of penalties for children is a highly significant step forward to correct their behavioural patterns in accordance with moral values,” he said.
The law stipulates that child victims or witnesses, at all stages of investigation and trial, will have the right to be heard, have their demands understood and be treated in a manner that preserves their dignity and ensures their physical, psychological and moral integrity.
They will also have the right to protection, health, social and legal assistance, rehabilitation and integration into society.
In addition to the aforementioned rights guaranteed during all stages of arrest, investigation, trial and verdict execution, child suspects will also have the right to obtain all information about the charges levelled against them, with the assistance of an interpreter whenever the need arises.
Judge Ebrahim Al Zayed, who heads the Supreme Criminal Appeals Court, said the new courts will be a great addition to Bahrain’s justice system.
“There is no doubt that provisions of Law 4/2021 on the promulgation of the Restorative Justice Law for Children is a leap forward in the development of children’s rights,” he told the GDN.
“These specialised courts will ensure that Bahrain is among the leading countries in protecting children’s rights.”
Mr Al Zayed stressed that judges were trained in the past few months and were ready to handle cases.
There was no court session yesterday but officials expect cases to be heard in the coming days.
Previous sentencing of those aged under 18 will also be reviewed by the committee.
noorz@gdn.com.bh
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