Though the Commissions of Inquiry are often created by external mandate, the Bahraini Commission of Inquiry was established through internal decision-making and has received a consultation process with various bodies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The terms of reference set out in the Royal Order contain a number of structures that have contributed to the Commission’s integrity and independence, such as:
- The Commission is wholly independent from the Bahraini government and will be responsible for hiring its own staff and administering its own budget;
- The Commission has been afforded full access to government agencies, officials and files;
- The Commission has been granted the government’s cooperation in giving the Commission access to all places and people that the Commission deems appropriate;
- The Commission has the ability to meet with witnesses in secret and to adopt protective measures for witnesses;
- The Commission has the authority to decide on all matters concerning the scope of its work and its methods of operation;
- The Government has undertaken to ensure that no person will be punished, penalized, harassed or embarrassed in any way;
- The Commission has been granted the ability to make any recommendations that it sees fit;
- The Commission’s final report will be made public in its entirety;
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