Government Response

- Training and rehabilitation programmes for National Security Agency personnel are being implemented on the application of all international standards, particularly the United Nations Convention Against Torture, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Bahraini legislations to enhance the comprehension of human rights. A Letter was sent to the UN Resident Representative and UNDP in Bahrain to provide their views and experiences in the fields of human rights, and to support the Agency with training programmes in this field, as well as to include them within the scope of the Agency’s training programmes which are being prepared at the present time (attached is a softcopy of the letter).

Although the Agency’s functions related to arrests and detention were discontinued, training is being conducted on programmes related to the basic rules of the code of conduct of law enforcement personnel, in order to enhance the understanding of the Agency’s personnel of those rules.

The Agency’s semi-annual in house training programmes schedule is attached. Other programmes are currently being prepared by external experts from outside the Agency, in coordination with a number of entities, foremost among which is the UNDP in Bahrain.

The Agency is currently conducting a comprehensive review of all processes and procedures for evaluation and development of plans to avoid any adverse effects, as well as to develop the required frameworks to enhance performance to the highest levels of quality, in accordance with thoroughly prepared plans. Moreover, the Agency is in the process of creating a new structure in phases aimed at pumping new blood at a number of leadership and middle management levels, in line with the requirements of the nature of this phase and the strategies of the Agency which are all devoted to elevate the level of performance based on the Agency’s mandate. The response was given on 8 February 2012.

H.E. Minister of Interior issued an order to the Head of Public Security to take a number of measures and actions with the help of international experts:

(a) To design and conduct a legal training course for public security staff to help promote the protection of human rights, particularly in the process of maintaining public order, detention and questioning.

(b) To prepare and issue a code of conduct for police officers, in compliance with best United Nations practices, including a code of conduct for personnel assigned to enforce the laws and the basic principles related to the use of force and firearms by staff assigned to enforce the laws. The Commission will be informed of developments. In addition, security officers training programmes will be organized with the assistance of each of the international experts in the field of police work (John Timothy and John Bates).

In addition, Bahrain Defence Force is working on the development of similar programmes. The Commission will be informed of developments.

The National Security Agency no longer has authority to enforce the law, detain or arrest. Therefore, the recommendation does not apply to the National Security Agency.

The Commission was provided with the Police Code of Ethics and the overall framework of Ministry of Interior personnel training programme in the fields of human rights.

Government Response

Further to the decision of the Interior Minister that was issued on December 22, 2011, and after consultations and suggestions provided by the police experts, John Yeats and John Timoney, a new training programme was launched for security personnel. The first training class started at the Royal Police College.

The National Security Service to initiate a comprehensive training programme for its staff since January 22, 2012. The training courses will be held over 6 consecutive months; and the curriculum will include lectures on the basics of human rights, basic rules of professional conduct and how to deal with members of the community.

The Bahrain Defence Force also added a Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials in their training programmes, in addition to basic human rights.

Government Response

The Commission was provided with a copy of Ministerial Resolution No. 14 for 2012 on the issue of the Police Officer’s Code of Conduct.

The Commission was provided with the Police Code of Ethics and the overall framework of Ministry of Interior personnel training programme in the fields of human rights.

Government Response

A copy was attached for the training programmes organized by the National Security Service for its employees, in addition to the steps taken by the Bahrain Defence Force to train its cadres in the field of human rights, within the implementation of the recommendation:

1. The Royal College of Command and General Staff will prepare training programmes on the international principles of human rights and the principles of international humanitarian law, in coordination with a number of specialized international institutes.

2. At least four officers from the military judiciary will be dispatched to join the training courses in the field of human rights at the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences (ISISC) in Siracusa, Italy.

3. Work is on-going to include the principles of human rights, the international humanitarian law, and the principles of the United Nations concerning the enforcement of laws, and the use of force and firearms, in exceptional circumstances, in the training curricula of Bahrain Defence Force.

Government Response

The recommendation was implemented by the issue of Resolution No.2012 by the Minister of Interior. In addition, the Government’s team wrote to the Ministry of Interior on the valued proposals made by the National Commission in this respect to consider their possible inclusion in the code of conduct.