Bahrain : Attorney-General, Dr. Ali bin Fadhl Al-Buainain, today issued Edict 45/201, determining the special procedures to be followed in children-related complaints filed with the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), commensurate with the latest legislative developments in the kingdom, and in line with the provisions of Law 4/2021 promulgating the Restorative Justice Law for children and Their Protection from Maltreatment.
The edict supports the procedures taken by the SIU in this type of complaints in light of the provisions of the Law on Restorative Justice for Children and Their Protection from Maltreatment, which are consistent with international conventions and protocols related to the fight against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment, as well as anything related to the rights of children.
It also aims to achieve the purposes of Law 4/2021, which seeks to meet the basic rights of the child, listen to them, understand their demands, provide them with health, psychological and social care, provide them with legal and judicial assistance, guarantee their right to legal representation and take into account their best interests in all procedures.
The edict stipulates that the Special Investigation Unit should be informed about the social and psychological reports of the victim issued by the Child Protection Centre before hearing their statements, and that the child should be asked whether they would like to have a certain person attend the investigation with them before starting to question them.
Meanwhile, the edict authorises the presence of social or psychological experts during the investigation, bearing in mind that the investigation is conducted with the child in a language and dialect that they understand.
The edict also makes it mandatory for the SIU’s investigators to show support and assistance to the children so that they feel confident and reassured to express their words and understand their demands, and to take into account the privacy of children in the investigation procedures.
Edict 45 also stipulates the establishment of a special electronic record in which complaints relating to children will be registered.
It also makes it necessary for the SIU to notify the Family and Child Prosecution of all children-related complaints in order to do what is necessary regarding the provision of support and aftercare for them.
