Ensuring justice for children in Bahrain: Attorney General

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Attorney-General has issued guidelines to be adhered to while investigating cases involving children. The new guidelines determine the procedures to be followed in cases filed with the Special Investigation Unit in line with Law 4/2021 promulgating the Restorative Justice Law for children and Their Protection from Maltreatment.

The law requires SIU to review the social and psychological reports issued by the Child Protection Centre before proceeding with complaints involving children.

The new rules are as per Resolution No. 45 of 2021 issued by Dr Ali bin Fadl Al Buainain, the Attorney General. “It is necessary to ensure the rights of a child, listen and understand their needs, to achieve objectives of the law,” said Dr Al Buainain.

He added: “It is necessary to ensure health, psychological, social, legal and judicial assistance for children, and guarantee their right to legal representation taking into account their best interest in all procedures.” As per the resolution, a child should be allowed a person of choice at the time of interrogation.

Interrogation should be in the language and dialect the child understands and in the presence of a social expert or a psychologist. Investigators, the Attorney-General said, should deal with the situation in a friendly and confidence-inspiring way. All the procedures should be in a way, ensuring the privacy of the children.

The decision also calls for establishing an electronic record for keeping track of the complaints. The Special Investigation Unit should also take the initiative to notify the Family and Child Prosecution of any complaints received which involve children.