Joint workshop with the ICRC

Activating a memorandum of understanding signed five years ago, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in collaboration with Bahrain’s Interior Ministry, held a training workshop for 33 officials from the General Directorate of Reformation and Rehabilitation (prisons), the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Criminal Evidence Department, and the Office of the Ombudsman among others.

The workshop, which was held in January this year, displayed a documentary film about the humanitarian approach in detention, and awareness on the ICRC role and work in places of detention and the role of the ICRC doctor in those centers. The workshop also discussed model international standards for treatment of persons deprived of their liberty, and the most important problems faced by those working in correctional and rehabilitation centers during the discharge of their responsibilities.

Col. Ghazi Saleh Al Sinan, Acting Director General of the General Directorate of Reformation and Rehabilitation, said that ICRC delegations that visit Bahrain and inspect correctional and rehabilitation centers usually issue reports including recommendations concerning the living conditions and treatment of detainees, pointing out that such reports are examined and quickly responded to.

It should be noted that the memorandum of mutual understanding between Bahrain and the ICRC, provides for allowing ICRC delegates to visit all the detention places affiliated to the Ministry of Interior in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as accessing detainees, regardless of their legal status, whether previously convicted or not, and whether or not a sentence has been issued against them. The purpose of the visit is to assess prison conditions, treatment of prisoners, and then seek to resolve them directly with the official authorities.