Committee on the Rights of the Child

Report submitted by Bahrain under article 12 (1) of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, due in 2006 *

[Date received: 21 October 2020]

Contents

Page

I.Introduction4

II.General guidelines4

(a)Report preparation process4

(b)Compliance with the general principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child5

(c)Contribution of application of the Optional Protocol to enforcement of the Convention5

(d)Legal position of the Optional Protocol5

(e)Reservations to the Optical Protocol5

(f)Relevant legislation5

(g)Procedural stipulations12

III.Data15

(a)National and local data from the records of the Department of Social Welfare of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development identifying vulnerable families15

(b)Statistics from the Public Prosecution and unified criminal database system (Najem)16

(c)Sale of children and their exploitation in prostitution17

(d)Involvement of children in forced labour17

(e)Exploitation of children in pornography18

IV.General implementation measures19

(a)Legal framework for the implementation of the Protocol19

(b)Bodies concerned with implementation of the Protocol21

(c)Dissemination of Protocol and provision of training23

(d)National plans and strategies designed to implement the Protocol29

(e)Participation of civil society in implementing the Protocol31

(f)Monitoring and oversight mechanisms36

V.Preventive measures37

(a)Protection of children most vulnerable to the crimes covered by the Protocol.37

VI.Prohibition and related issues38

(a)Articles on the prohibition of the sale of children and their exploitation in child prostitution and child pornography38

(b)Maximum and minimum penalties; aggravating circumstances38

(c)Statute of limitations39

(d)Other related crimes40

(e)Mandatory penalties under the laws of the State party40

(f)Legal responsibility of corporate persons41

(g)Guardianship42

(h)Laws prohibiting the publication of materials advertising crimes covered by the Protocol43

(i)Jurisdiction44

(j)Extradition of suspects45

(k)International conventions and legal bases for cooperation with other States parties45

(l)Seizure and confiscation of criminal materials described in the Protocol46

VII.Protection of the rights and interests of victims46

(a)Measures taken to protect victims46

(b)Investigation of crimes under the Protocol46

(c)Guidelines to ensure the best interests of child victims of crimes under the Protocol47

(d)Laws designed to ensure that the best interests of child victims of such crimes are identified and taken into account during criminal investigations and proceedings47

(e)Training of staff alongside victims of crimes under the Protocol47

(f)Ensuring the safety and security of those working with victims of crimes described in the Protocol50

(g)Ensuring access to a fair and impartial trial51

(h)Social reintegration programmes51

(i)Identity recovery51

(j)Equality and non-discrimination in assistance provided51

(k)Means of redress52

VIII.International assistance and cooperation52

IX.Other legal provisions52

(a)Core international instruments of the Protocol52

X.Conclusion152

Initial report of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the measures taken by the Kingdom to implement and enforce the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child relating to the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

I.Introduction

1.The Kingdom of Bahrain is pleased to submit its initial report on implementation of the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, pursuant to article 12 (1) of the Optional Protocol.

2.It should be noted that the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, in 2004. This was published in the Official Gazette No. 2652 (15 September 2004) as Act No. 19 (2004). Furthermore, the Kingdom of Bahrain has not entered any reservations to the articles of the Protocol.

3.On 1 May 2019, the Kingdom of Bahrain submitted common core document HRI/CORE/BHR/2019, which is complementary to the aforementioned report.

4.Bahrain refers to its combined fourth to sixth periodic reports (annexed to the report) submitted under article 44 of the Convention on 11 September 2017, on implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This contains a considerable amount of information and data reflecting the efforts made to implement the Convention and respond in detail to the Committee’s recommendations. Furthermore, the Kingdom replied to the list of issues relating to Bahrain’s combined fourth to sixth periodic reports, published by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (annexed) and submitted on 29 October 2018. It was discussed at the 80th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Geneva (18–21 January 2019). It contained much information clarifying the most recent measures taken to implement the Convention. As such, it would be useful to peruse these documents when considering this report.

5.The report will deal with efforts to implement the Protocol, including the legal and institutional frameworks and, in particular, the criminal laws that address the crimes of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, associated penalties, means of redress, methods of prevention, the protection, rehabilitation and social reintegration of victims, as well as international cooperation and assistance in implementing the Convention.

6.The Higher Coordinating Committee for Human Rights, chaired by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is the national mechanism responsible for preparing and submitting national reports on human rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This Committee approved the report submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on 6 October, 2020.

II.General guidelines

(a)Report preparation process

7.The report was prepared by the National Commission for Childhood, which formed a steering committee consisting of representatives of the ministries and bodies most closely associated with implementation of the Optional Protocol namely, Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Public Prosecution, Ministry of the Interior, Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, University of Bahrain, Bahrain Institute for Political Development, relevant civil society organizations, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Higher Coordinating Committee for Human Rights.

8.In preparing the report, the National Commission for Childhood took into account the observations and views of the National Institute for Human Rights, given the latter’s wide mandate in the field of human rights and the fact that it is financially and administratively independent and carries out its work freely, impartially and with complete independence.

9.The members of the Committee responsible for preparing the report were provided with revised guidelines to help them understand better the type of information and data required in preparing the report.

10.It is worth noting that the process of information collection and review continued until the submission of the report.

11.The draft report was sent to all relevant Bahraini government bodies and the National Institute for Human Rights, with the request that they submit their views thereon.

12.Representatives of bodies that contributed to the drafting process were invited to meet to discuss the report. Numerous amendments were made that were taken into account in the final report.

(b)Compliance with the general principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

13.Bahrain’s compliance with these principles has already been noted in the periodic reports submitted on implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In this report, the legislation, programmes, measures and policies that reflect Bahrain’s commitment to these principles when applying the provisions of the Optional Protocol will be reviewed.

(c)Contribution of application of the Optional Protocol to enforcement of the Convention

14.The measures taken by the State to implement the Optional Protocol have contributed to the application of the substance of many articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This report will address the details of implementation and application of the provisions of the Protocol and articles of the Convention.

(d)Legal position of the Optional Protocol

15.Conventions ratified by the Kingdom of Bahrain are held to be an integral part of legislation. As such, the Optional Protocol has entered into force within the Bahraini legislative system and enjoys the legal force necessary for implementation and enforcement just as national legislation (see the Children’s Act, promulgated pursuant to Act No. 37 (2012) and other relevant national laws) in cases where the rights and interests of the child have been violated in any way under the Protocol.

(e)Reservations to the Optical Protocol

16.The Kingdom of Bahrain has expressed no reservations to any article of the Optional Protocol.

(f)Relevant legislation

17.A list of legislation relating to the Optical Protocol follows:

1. Penal Code

The Bahraini Penal Code criminalizes rape (arts. 344, 345) and indecent assault (arts. 346, 347). It provides for stricter penalties in cases where the perpetrator is an ascendant of the victim, is responsible for the victim’s upbringing or has guardianship over the victim or if the victim is a child. The Code further criminalizes soliciting, pimping, living off immoral earnings, committing indecent acts with a female in public or otherwise (art. 350) and indecent behaviour toward a female (art. 351). In addition to pandering (art. 354), the Code criminalizes the possession, acquisition, printing or display with the intent to exploit or distribute of writings, photographs, drawings or films that violate public morals (art. 255) and public solicitation (art. 356). The relevant provisions are as follows:

Article 324

Any person who compels a male or female to commit acts of morality or prostitution or assists in such acts in any way whatsoever shall be liable to a term of imprisonment.

If the victim is less than 18 years of age, the punishment shall be a term of imprisonment of up to five years.

Article 325

Any person who compels a male or female to commit acts of immorality or prostitution by means of force, threat or deceit shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of between two and seven years.

If the victim is less than 18 years of age, the punishment shall be a term of imprisonment of between three and 10 years.

Article 326

A term of imprisonment of up to five years shall be the punishment for:

Any person, male or female, whose livelihood relies wholly or in part on earnings from engaging in prostitution.

Any person who lives wholly or in part on what others earn from engaging in prostitution, whether by influence or control or by luring them into prostitution and whether money is obtained by consent with nothing in return or extorted as protection money.

Any person who protects another person engaged in immorality or prostitution in exchange for benefit of some kind.

Article 327

If the offender in the preceding three articles is a spouse or ascendant of the victim, is responsible for the victim’s upbringing or welfare or has guardianship over the victim, the minimum and maximum punishments shall be doubled, up to a maximum of 15 years.

Article 328

Any person who establishes or manages a place of immorality or prostitution or assists in any way in the establishment or management thereof shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of between two and five years.

A court order shall be issued for the closure of the premises and confiscation of the contents and furnishings thereof without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.

In the context of this article, a place of immorality or prostitution shall be any place habitually used for the practice by third parties of immorality or prostitution.

Article 329

Any person who solicits openly in a public place with a view to engaging in immorality or prostitution shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to two years.

Any advertisement containing an enticement to engage in immorality or prostitution or drawing attention thereto shall be considered solicitation.

Article 330

Upon establishing the facts, the police shall:

Refer the perpetrator of acts of immorality or prostitution for a medical examination. If it is established that the perpetrator is suffering from venereal disease, the competent court shall order admission to a treatment facility.

Seize the contents and furnishings of the place of immorality or prostitution, close the premises and place seals thereon. Neither the premises subject to the closure order nor the contents and furnishings therein shall be released unless a ruling is issued by the competent court to that effect or the accused is acquitted.

Article 344

Any person who engages in sexual intercourse with a female without her consent shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years. Punishment shall be a term of imprisonment, if the victim is under the age of 14.

Article 345

A term of imprisonment of up to 20 years shall be the penalty for sexual intercourse with a female over the age of 14 but under the age of 16, if consensual.

A term of imprisonment of up to 10 years shall be the penalty for sexual intercourse with a female over the age of 16 but under the age of 21, if consensual.

Ar ticle 346

A term of imprisonment of up to 10 years shall be the penalty for indecent assault, if the act is non-consensual.

The punishment shall be a term of imprisonment, if the victim is under the age of 16. If the victim is under the age of 14, the act is presumed to be non-consensual.

Artic le 347

A term of imprisonment shall be the penalty for indecent assault of a person over the age of 14 but under the age of 21, if the act is consensual.

Art icle 348

The following shall be considered aggravating circumstances in respect of the crimes stipulated in the preceding articles:

If the offender is an ascendant of the victim, is responsible for the victim’s upbringing, has tutelage or authority over the victim or is a servant of the victim or of one of the above.

If the offender is a public servant or is entrusted with a public service or a religious figure, physician or assistant thereof, who has abused his position and the trust placed in him.

If two or more persons participated in the commission of the crime, cooperated in overpowering the victim or took turns in committing the act.

If the victim contracts a venereal disease as a result of the crime.

If the victim becomes pregnant or suffers loss of virginity as a result of the crime.

Article 349

If one of the felonies stipulated in the preceding articles results in the victim’s death the penalty shall be execution or life imprisonment.

Article 350

A term of imprisonment of up to a year or a fine of up to 100 Bahraini dinars (BD) shall be the penalty for committing indecent acts in public. The same penalty shall apply to any person who commits an indecent act with a woman in a public or private place.

Article 351

A term of imprisonment of up to three months or a fine of up to BD 20 shall be the penalty for subjecting a woman to indecent speech or acts on a public highway or road. The same penalty shall apply, if the act is committed by telephone.

Article 352

With regard to the crimes set out in the preceding articles, the perpetrator is assumed to know the victim’s true age unless he can prove that he was unable to determine it.

2. Legislative Decree No. 17 (1976), on juveniles

This law criminalizes the luring of juveniles into delinquency and negligence in performing a duty of care, if such negligence results in commission of a crime by the juvenile or delinquency in the form of one of the cases set out in this law.

Article 20

Persons who are entrusted with the care of a juvenile and who neglect to fulfil that duty shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of not less than a year and/or a fine of up to BD 2,000, if such negligence results in commission of a crime by the juvenile or delinquency in the form of one of the cases referred to in article 2 of this Law.

Article 22

Without prejudice to any harsher penalty, a term of imprisonment shall be the penalty for leading a juvenile into delinquency or one of the cases referred to in article 2 of this Law, by helping or encouraging him to carry out an act of delinquency or facilitating such an act in any way, even if the juvenile did not actually become delinquent.

A term of imprisonment of not less than three months shall be the penalty, if the perpetrator uses force or threats or is an ascendant of the victim, is responsible for the victim’s upbringing or has legal guardianship over the victim.

In all cases, if a crime is committed against more than one juvenile, even at different times, the penalty shall be a term of imprisonment of between six months and five years.

The offender is assumed to know the victim’s true age unless he can prove he was unable to determine it.

Observation

(a)The cases set out in article 2 of the law, which requires a person who neglects to perform his duty of care toward a child to be punished, include contacting a child who has been led or suspected of having been led into delinquency or who is known for bad behaviour or involvement in activities related to prostitution, immorality, moral corruption, gambling, drugs, etc. or who works for those who are so engaged.

(b)The penalties provided for under this law are in addition to that stipulated for the predicate crimes provided for in other laws linked to the crime of leading a juvenile into delinquency such as child exploitation and prostitution, which is the subject of article 22. Upon conviction, the harsher penalty shall be applied, in accordance with the case.

3. Act No. 37 (2012), promulgating the Children ’ s Act

This law regulates the means of protecting the physical and mental health of the child from abuse. It criminalizes all forms of abuse, including sexual harassment, online grooming and exploitation for immoral purposes, as well as exploitation by organized or opportunistic crime, including instilling ideas of fanaticism and hatred and inciting children to commit acts of violence. The following are the texts of the relevant articles:

Article 59

It is forbidden to exploit children in any form of organized and unorganized criminal activity, including implanting ideas of intolerance and hatred in a child and inciting a child to carry out acts of violence and terrorism.

Article 67

Without prejudice to any harsher punishment stipulated in any other law, anyone who sexually harasses a child with flirtatious behaviour or displays of nudity or lures a child into viewing pornographic images or movies of, including online, shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than six months.

Article 68

Without prejudice to any more severe punishment provided for in any other law, anyone who violates the provisions of article 59 of this law shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than a year and/or a fine not exceeding BD 1,000.

Observation: Pursuant to article 4 of this law, “child” means a person under 18 years of age.

4. Act No. 60 (2014), on information technology crime

The Cybercrime Law includes a detailed statement of crimes committed with the use of and against information technology systems and the misuse thereof. The law criminalizes the production of pornography with the intent to distribute it via an IT system or to circulate, sell, import or publish it through such a system. Penalties are more severe if such materials are shown to children or placed within their reach.

The law further criminalizes possession of child pornography. Note that, in the context of this law, “child pornography” has the same meaning as the definition of child pornography in the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, in accordance with article 10 of this law:

Without prejudice to any more severe penalty in another law:

(1)A penalty of not less than one year’s imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding BD 10,000 shall be imposed in each of the following cases:

Production of pornographic material intended for distribution by an IT system.

Importation, sale, offer for sale, use, circulation, transmission, distribution, dispatch, publication or gift of pornographic material by means of an IT system. The penalty shall be imprisonment for a period of not less than two years and/or a fine of up to BD 10,000, if the pornographic material is shown to or placed within the reach of children.

(2)A penalty of imprisonment of not less than three months and/or a fine of up to BD 3,000 shall be imposed on anyone who:

Obtains pornographic material through an IT system for oneself or others.

Comes into possession of pornographic material from an IT system or other IT device. The penalty shall be imprisonment for a period of not less than six months and/or a fine of not less than BD 3,000 if the pornographic material involves or is placed within the reach of children.

(3)In application of the provisions of this article, the term “child pornography” shall mean the definition of child pornography in the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

5. Act No. 1 (2008), on combating trafficking in persons

Article 1

For the purpose of implementing the provisions of this law, trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receiving of persons by means of threat or the use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deceit, abuse of power or of position or any other direct or indirect unlawful means. Exploitation shall include the exploitation of such persons or the prostitution of others or any other forms of exploitation, sexual assault, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receiving of persons who are less than eighteen years of age or are in a personal condition or state in which their consent or freedom of choice cannot be guaranteed shall be held to be trafficking in persons, if the intent is to exploit them, even if such act is not accompanied by any of the means set out in the preceding paragraph.

The perpetrator shall be presumed to know the true age of a victim under the age of eighteen.

Article 2

Without prejudice to any harsher penalty prescribed by the Penal Code or any other law, any person committing the crime of trafficking in persons shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine of between BD 2,000 and 10,000.

In case of conviction, the offender shall be obliged to pay costs, including the cost of repatriating the victim to his country, if the victim is a foreigner.

In all cases, the court shall order confiscation of funds, property, tools and other items used or intended for use in committing the crime or that were obtained as a result.

Article 3

Any corporate person who commits the crime of trafficking in persons in its own name or for its account or benefits from a chairman, board member or other official or subsidiary acting in such a capacity shall be liable for a fine of between BD 10,000 and 100,000.

This shall not prejudice the criminal liability of natural persons who work for a corporate person or on its behalf in accordance with the provisions of this law.

The court may order the dissolution or permanent or temporary closure of the corporate person, with such provision applicable to the branches thereof.

In all cases, the court shall order the confiscation of the funds, property, tools and other items that may have been used or intended for use in committing the crime or obtained as a result.

The corporate person shall be jointly liable with the natural person for payment of costs, including the costs of repatriating the victim, if he is a foreigner.

Article 4

With due regard to the provisions of section 5, chapter 3 of the Penal Code, the following shall be deemed as aggravating circumstances with respect to a crime of trafficking in persons:

If the crime is committed by a criminal gang.

If the victim is under the age of 15 fifteen years of age, a female or a person with special needs.

If the crime is not of a national nature.

If the perpetrator is an ascendant of the victim, is his guardian or responsible for his upbringing or has guardianship over him; or if the victim is his servant.

If the victim suffers an incurable disease as a result of the crime.

Article 5

With regard to the crime of trafficking in persons, the following measures will be taken at the investigation or trial stage:

Informing the victim of his legal rights in a language he understands.

Enabling the victim to explain his situation as a victim of a crime of trafficking in persons, as well as his legal, physical, psychological and social status.

The victim shall be examined by a specialist physician, if he requests or if it transpires that he is in need of medical or psychiatric care.

The victim shall be admitted a medical or psychiatric centre or a welfare centre, if it transpires that his medical or psychological condition or age so requires.

The victim shall be admitted to a special shelter or rehabilitation centre run by an approved authority and provided with accommodation, if it appears to be required.

Security protection will be arranged for the victim, if so required.

The chairman of the committee stipulated in article 7 of this law (Committee for the Evaluation of Foreign Victims of Trafficking in Persons) shall be contacted, if the victim is a foreigner and it transpires that he is in need of a job, with a view to removing any obstacles to employment.

Article 6

Without prejudice to the competence of the committee stipulated in article 7 of this law to recommend that the victim remain in the Kingdom, the Public Prosecution or court hearing the criminal case shall have the discretion to decide whether or not the victim needs to remain in the Kingdom during the investigation or court proceedings. They shall also be competent to take the measures stipulated in the preceding article and record them in the minutes of the investigation or court hearing, as appropriate, provided that the minutes are accompanied by all the reports relating to the victim. The Public Prosecution shall forward to the said committee a certified copy of the case file, after reaching a decision in respect thereof.

6. Act No. 17 (2015), on protection from domestic violence

The act covers ways of protecting family members, including children, from physical, economic, psychological and sexual abuse. Article 1 defines sexual assault as any of the following acts committed by an offender:

(a)Sexual abuse or exploitation of the victim by any means to satisfy the sexual desires of the aggressor or other parties.

(b)Exposing the victim to sexual behaviour or materials.

The act requires victim protection orders to be issued in domestic violence cases. Penalties for breaching protection orders are set out in articles 16 and 17:

Article 16

A term of imprisonment of up to a month and/or a fine of up to BD 100 shall be the penalty for breaching a protection order.

Article 17

Without prejudice to any more severe penalty in the Penal Code or any other law, a term of imprisonment of up to three months and/or a fine of up to BD 200 shall be the penalty for breaching a protection order by using violence against any persons covered by the provisions of the law.

7. Legislative Decree No. 16 (1998), on removal and transplantation of human organs

Article 3

It is not permitted to remove an organ from the body of a living person, even with his agreement, if removal of the organ would result in the death of the person or render him incapacitated.

Article 7

Buying, selling and receiving payment for bodily organs in any way whatsoever is forbidden. A physician may not knowingly perform such an operation.

Article 10

Without prejudice to any harsher penalty stipulated in other laws, the penalty for violating the provisions of this law and implementing decisions shall be a term of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to BD 3,000. The penalty shall be doubled, if the offence is repeated within two years from the date of the final ruling in respect of the first crime.

(g)Procedural stipulations

Penal Code

Article 5

This law shall apply to all offences committed in the State of Bahrain. A crime shall be held to have been committed within the State, if one or more of its component acts was committed there or if the outcome of the offence was achieved or intended to be achieved in Bahrain.

In all cases, the law shall apply to any person who took part in the offence as principal or abettor, even if the contribution took place abroad, as principal actor or accomplice.

Article 8

Any citizen who commits a criminal abroad, as principal actor or accomplice under this law shall be punished under the provisions of this law, if he is located in the State of Bahrain and the offence committed is punishable under the law of the country in which it occurred. This provision shall apply even if the citizen acquired nationality or lost it after committing the crime.

Article 9

This law shall apply to any foreigner in the State of Bahrain who has committed an offence abroad that is not covered under articles 6, 7 and 8 of this law and in respect of which application for extradition has not been made.

Article 64

The judge may, when handing down a sentence, order the confiscation of seized items used or intended to be used in connection with the crime.

The judge may order confiscation of those items the manufacture, possession, acquisition, use or handling of which constitutes an offence, even if they do not belong to the accused or a guilty verdict has not been handed down.

The judge may order confiscation of items used as payment for commission of the crime.

The above shall be without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.

18.The Kingdom of Bahrain has formulated royal decrees and formulated legislation and decisions relating to children, as follows:

Act No. 22 (2011), ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Special Needs;

Act No. 7 (2006), ratifying the Arab Charter on Human Rights;

Act No. 19 (2004), approving accession of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child;

Act No. 5 (2007), on combating begging and vagrancy;

Legislative Decree No. 46 (2002), promulgating the Criminal Procedures Law, amended by Act No. 41 (2005);

Act No. 51 (2006), amending article 8 of the Shariah Court Procedures Law, promulgated by Legislative Decree No. 26 (1986);

Act No. 15 (2007), on narcotic and psychotropic substances;

Act No. 34 (2018), promulgating the Public Health Law (articles 53 and 59 relate to childhood and the family);

Act No. 30 (2018), promulgating the Protection of Personal Data Law;

Act No. 18 (2017), on alternative penalties and measures;

Act No. 23 (2018), promulgating the Health Insurance Law (articles 39 and 42 relate to childhood and the family);

Act No. 1 (2017), on protecting the community from HIV/AIDS and protecting the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS (article 11);

Act No. 10 (2015), amending article 320 of the Penal Code, promulgated by Legislative Decree No. 15 (1976);

Act No. 26 (2014), on the establishment of the National Institute for Human Rights, amended by Legislative Decree No. 20 (2016);

Act No. 18 (2014), promulgating the Reformation and Rehabilitation Institute;

Act No. 36 (2012), promulgating the Private Sector Labour Law;

Act No. 8 (2009), on combating smoking and tobacco;

Act No.5 (2007), on combatting begging and vagrancy;

Legislative Decree No. 22 (2000), on fostering;

Legislative Decree No. 16 (1991), on the accession of the State of Bahrain to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the General Assembly;

Legislative Decree No. 8, ratifying amendment of article 43.2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the General Assembly (November 1989);

Legislative Decree No. 44 (2018), promulgating the International Crimes Act;

Royal Decree No. 14 (2011), on the establishment and regulation of the National Committee for Follow-up of the National Model for the Integration of Women’s Needs in the Government Action Program, amended by Royal Decree No. 12 (2014);

Royal Decree No. 33 (2007), on the reorganization of the Royal Charity Organization;

Act No. 74 (2006), on the welfare, rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities;

Decision No. 28 (2018), on reforming the National Commission for Childhood;

Decision No. 20 (2018), amending certain provisions of Decision No. 46 (2011), on the regulation of training and subsequent care from the Child Welfare Home;

Decision No. 36 (2017), on reconstitution of the fostering committee;

Decision No. 16 (2017), forming the task force on women’s, child and adolescent health;

Decision No. 69 (2016), on the Child Protection Centre;

Prime Ministerial Decision No. 4 (2016), on reforming the National Commission for Childhood;

Decision No. 131 (2015), on the implementing regulations for the Reformation and Rehabilitation Institute Act, promulgated by Act No. 18 (2014);

Decision No. 84 (2015), on the formation of the Family Reconciliation Office and determination of the rules and procedures essential for settling domestic disputes;

Decision No. 24 (2014), amending article 5 of Decision No. 46 (2011), on the regulation of training and after-care from the Child Welfare Home;

Decision No. 64 (2013), the formation of the National Commission for Childhood;

Decision No. 20 (2012), establishing and forming the assessment and follow-up committee of the Child Protection Centre;

Decision No. 26 (2007), on the implementing regulations for the Fostering Act;

Decision No. 46 (2007), on the formation of the National Commission for Childhood;

Decision No. 44 (2011), on the terms and procedures for the licensing of family counselling centres.

19.The Council of Representatives has adopted a draft law on restorative justice for children and protection of children from abuse. The new law aims to achieve restorative justice for children and provide them with care and protection from abuse. The best interests of the child shall be paramount in all provisions, decisions and procedures pertaining to the law. The draft is currently being scrutinized by a special committee of the Consultative Council.

III.Data

(a)National and local data from the records of the Department of Social Welfare of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development identifying vulnerable families

20.The inventory of vulnerable families is based on the statistics and records of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, which have their origins in the concern of the Social Welfare Department to document and follow-up cases with a view to determining the extent to which intervention has helped vulnerable families overcome the obstacles facing them in. The Department has been keen to document all cases in the official records in order and collect numbers, data and statistics, making use of this to determine the scale of social problems and to formulate plans to address such problems. Additionally, the Department uses the data to prepare studies, research, educational materials and media programmes to serve current national efforts to reduce this phenomenon in society, as follows:

Family welfare programme

This is a program focused on coordinating and implementing the terms of visits for the children of divorced or separated parents in the Kingdom of Bahrain, on the basis of orders issued by courts of the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, in social centers across the country.

It should be noted that the program, in addition to implementing the terms of visits, provides a range of services, including preparation of reports on the regularity of family visits; referral of families to family counselling offices to resolve any problems they may face during visits; and encouraging the parties to coordinate among themselves and reach agreement on holding meetings directly and amicably outside the centre, thereby benefiting the psychology of both child and family and ensuring the right of the child to live in a safe and stable domestic environment that promotes his/her proper psychological development.

Services provided by the program

Helping families carry out visits by holding an accustomization session at the family counselling offices before starting the visit to help minimize problems during the visit.

Arranging all visits on the basis of the terms of the order received from the court, showing type, duration and date of visit. These are of two types:

Arranging visits in social centres at set times and on set days.

Arranging visits outside social centres, whereby the concerned party takes the children to visit outside the center for a set number of hours or to stay overnight on set days.

Supplying the courts with reports on the regularity of family visits.

Equipping social centers where visits are held with security cameras to record any quarrels and disagreements between the parties during the visit.

Allocating glass-fronted rooms in which to hold visits; the room may contain toys for children to play with to facilitate the visit.

Beneficiary families are welcome to submit complaints and observations for forwarding to the program supervisor for action.

Child Welfare Home / Batelco Home

This is a social institution that seeks to provide care for children of unknown parentage, orphans and children of broken homes up to the age of 18. Children are provided with full welfare services.

Goals of the Home

To provide care and shelter for children of unknown parentage, orphans and children of broken homes up to the age of 18.

To provide social care, education, physical and psychological health care and pastoral care for residents until such time as they are adopted or family conditions improve.

To provide education and training to enable them to become upright citizens and ensure they integrate within the community and play a constructive role.

To develop laws and legislation relating to such children with the relevant bodies in Bahrain.

To encourage families to foster and monitor the child’s adjustment to family life.

To encourage alternative families (from the child’s relatives) to foster children of broken homes.

Services offered by the Home

The Home provides a range of residential and pastoral services for the target group. The most important of these are social care, education, psychological care, health care, pastoral care, recreational programmes and activities, religious education, sporting activities, cultural programs and after-care for children who have moved on from the home. Furthermore, the Home runs a program for Bahraini families wishing to foster and care for a child.

Child Protection Centre and Child Hotline (998)

The Centre has been mentioned in a number of places in the report.

(b)Statistics from the Public Prosecution and unified criminal database system (Najem)

21.The unified criminal system (Najem) is an automated criminal information system to which the police and security departments of the Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecution in the Kingdom of Bahrain are connected, building a unified central database employing modern technology, linking all employees and integrating with relevant applications and external parties. It contributes significantly to enriching the quality of information, improving performance, ensuring secure access to information and supporting decision makers in enhancing security and reducing crime.

Goals of the Najem system

Introduction of IT at all stages and in all areas of specialization of the Ministry, transforming it into an electronic ministry.

Creation of a unified and integrated database designed to achieve the following:

Rapid access to information for decision-making.

Analysis of information and monitoring of procedures.

Automation of reporting systems, cases and criminal records, as well as penal institutions, using a unified database.

Maintenance of the independence and jurisdiction of security bodies, in accordance with the powers granted.

Provision of accurate information and statistics promptly to aid decision-making.

Engineer procedures and prepare workflows to achieve optimum levels of speed and efficiency in serving the public.

Tighten up control and check the progress of all operations.

Ensure confidentiality and integrity of data and central control of data access and processing.

Discard manual procedures and transition to a paperless working environment.

Maintain a complete case record in the system of all measures taken and make use of previous patterns.

Expand data entry and extraction processes.

Functionality of the Najem system

The practical functions provided by the system simulate the procedures followed by the police: the system documents all stages of the report from the recording of basic data to the entry of data from the research and investigation stages. The case is completed by Public Prosecution and sent to the criminal courts. The system also provides the appropriate functions for documenting procedures associated with police stations, such as recording arrest data and circulating information and statements.

In terms of administration, Najem has many useful primary and auxiliary functions, the most important of which are accuracy, speed and workload, especially when it comes to issuing high-quality reports, statements and statistics of high quality, flexibility and accuracy to serve the goals of investigator and decision maker.

(c)Sale of children and their exploitation in prostitution

22.No cases of the sale of children were reported during the period covered by the report.

(d)Involvement of children in forced labour

23.The Kingdom of Bahrain is keen to uphold the basic rights of the child, which children everywhere should enjoy without discrimination. These rights include personal and civil rights, rights guaranteeing protection, including protection from all forms of social and economic exploitation and any work likely to be dangerous, detrimental to their education or harmful to their health or physical, mental, spiritual, social or psychological well-being. They further include protection from sexual abuse, physical and emotional violence, neglect and unlawful or arbitrary deprivation of liberty. As such, legislation exists which categorially prohibits the employment of children, while rules and conditions have been put in place, governing the employment of juveniles. Pursuant to article 28, chapter 4, of the Private Sector Labour Law No. 36 (2012, amended), there are 42 jobs in which it is forbidden to employ juveniles, in addition to work which renders them liable to physical, psychological or sexual exploitation or where they are used to carry out unlawful activities or jobs that would expose them to various risks. This is consistent with the international charters ratified by Bahrain, which permit the employment of juveniles under specific conditions. These charters include the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and the Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (No. 182).

24.The Private Sector Labour Law, No. 36 (2012) devotes an entire chapter (chapter 4) to the provisions pertaining to the employment of juveniles. Note that, in the context of the application of the Labour Law, the word “juvenile” means anyone over 15 but under 18 years of age. Article 24 of the Labour Law also prohibits the employment of anyone under the age of 15. Article 1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as any person under the age of 18, unless the age of majority is reached before that under the applicable law.

25.Pursuant to the foregoing, we would like to note that, during the inspection visits made by the labour inspector of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, no cases were reported of forced child labour and no report or complaint of child labour was received.

26.Furthermore, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development carries out inspection of private sector facilities to check proper and effective implementation of Minister of Labour Decision No. 23 (2013), which sets out, by age, the terms and conditions regulating employment of juveniles, as well as the jobs, industries and arduous and dangerous work in which it is forbidden to employ juveniles and which would harm their health, safety or moral conduct. The Decision prohibits the employment of juveniles under the age of 18 in 42 occupations and industries. Furthermore, article 2 prohibits employment of juveniles under the age of 16 in any forbidden occupation, in addition to jobs that would render juveniles liable to physical, psychological or sexual exploitation or where they would be used to carry out unlawful activities and jobs that expose them to physical, chemical, biological or mechanical hazards.

27.The Decision obliges the employer, before employing a juvenile, to conduct a primary medical examination to ensure he is physically fit and healthy to do the kind of work assigned. The examination will be conducted at the employer’s expense. The employer is also obliged, after having engaged a juvenile, to ensure he undergoes regular medical examination with his knowledge at least once a year; he shall also undergo an end of service examination. This is to ensure that he is free from occupational illness or work-related injury and that he remains fit and healthy. In all cases, the results of the medical examinations shall be recorded in the juvenile’s health card.

28.The Decision sets out a number of measures to determine precisely the responsibility of each supervisory body, including the inspection and occupational safety departments of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, which conduct regular inspection of facilities. It also sets out the pre- and post-employment examinations to be carried out by the Ministry of Health.

29.Citizens and foreigners of both sexes are subject to the measures contained in the Decision. No violations have been recorded. Furthermore, civil society organizations have not recorded any case of the employment of juveniles in breach of the aforementioned Decision.

30.The phenomenon of child labour is unknown to the labour market in Bahrain. This is due to the many welfare benefits which the country provides, including free, compulsory primary education. Moreover, in addition to the availability of national labour it is easy to recruit workers from labour-exporting countries. There are also Ministry of Labour and Social Development programs and centres which protect children from forms of abuse, including child labour.

31.There are centres which look after the welfare of orphans and ensure they have access to education and adequate care to enable then to become upright citizens. This helps to limit the spread of child labour.

(e)Exploitation of children in pornography

32.A child exploitation investigation team (CEIT) has been set up by the Anti-Cybercrime Department of the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security. The team processes all reports of the sexual harassment of children and has the following functions:

To curb the phenomenon of sexual harassment of children and make the Internet a safer place for children;

To conduct international cooperation, investigation and arrest of child abusers;

To spread awareness and inform parents, guardians, adults and children of their responsibility to address such risks in daily life;

To enhance the skills of evidence gathering, investigation and IT in order to identify offenders.

33.The team receives tip-offs via Cyber Tipline, including user name, address and type of application used. Some 25–30 leads per day can be received, whereupon the team will open a direct investigation.

Schedule showing number of cases dealt with before and after CEIT was established

Year	Description
2013	A report was received from the Serious Organized Crime Agency (UK) concerning five suspects aged between 19 and 31. They were arrested and referred to the Public Prosecution, receiving sentences ranging from three to 10 years.
2013	A case involving six suspects, accused of indecent assault, extortion, moral corruption of minors, online grooming, sexual abuse and exploitation of children; they received sentences of from three to 10 years.
2017	A report from Interpol in Ottawa, Canada, involving one suspect, against whom legal measures were taken. The case was forwarded to Public Prosecution and subsequently went to trial; the offender was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment and a fine.

34.There is no separate category within the statistics of the Child Protection Centre, which serves abused children and seeks to act in their best interests, for children under the age of 18 lured into prostitution, trafficked or used for sex tourism. No cases of this kind have been reported to the Centre and the phenomenon does not exist in Bahrain.

Child Protection Centre Statistics showing numbers of children subjected to sexual violence and helped by the Centre, by age and sex (2018)

Age group
0 – 5	6 – 10	11 – 15	16 – 18
Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Total
5	10	22	26	48	31	2	4	148

IV.General implementation measures

(a)Legal framework for the implementation of the Protocol

35.In general, given the seriousness and gravity of crimes of human trafficking, the investigation of such crimes is handed to an office of the Public Prosecution which specializes in this type of crime and has the high degree of competence required to investigate and pursue these cases.

36.The judicial instructions to the Public Prosecution, issued pursuant to Attorney General Decision No. 44 (2009), contain directives and guidelines adopted in the light of certain laws and judicial principles that must be taken into account when investigating and prosecuting cases of human trafficking. Articles 293 and 294 of these instructions require members of the Public Prosecution to take measures to affirm the roles of the Committee for theEvaluation of Foreign Victims of Trafficking in Persons and the National Committee set up under Law No. 1 (2008), when looking into a victim’s circumstances. The former committee seeks to ensure that cases are duly prosecuted in the manner set out in law, while the latter promotes development of an integrated strategy to combat crime.

Article 293 of the judicial instructions to the Public Prosecution

In cases of human trafficking where the victim is a foreigner, the Public Prosecution must send a copy of the case file, once a decision has been made, to the Committee for theEvaluation of Foreign Victims of Trafficking in Persons, for action.

Article 294 of the judicial instructions

If, while investigating crimes of trafficking in persons, a member of the Public Prosecution comes across novel means or methods used by an offender to commit the crime, he shall prepare a memorandum on his observations and send it to the Public Prosecution head office namely, the office to which branch and specialized offices report, for evaluation. The Attorney General shall inform the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons, drawing attention to key points to be taken into account when carrying out its mission.

37.The Public Prosecution has set up a psychological support department, staffed by female social workers to avoid psychological harm to a child victim during questioning, which requires the child to recall and relive the incident in his/her memory. It may also help avoid the fear and psychological harm the child is likely to experience when confronting the perpetrator. In the light of these considerations, Public Prosecution has set aside an interview room, designed to help prepare the child psychologically. It is equipped with the technology to enable remote rather than face-to-face confrontation with the accused. In this regard, the Public Prosecutor issued Circular No. 1 (2007), on rules for the treatment of children in criminal cases. These include taking the tender age of the child into account when questioning him/her and calling upon the help of a social worker when hearing testimony, with a view to preparing the child psychologically to accept the interview format. Members of the Public Prosecution must also use the interview room to hear the testimony of children in cases requiring face-to-face confrontation between the accused and child victim, as well as other cases where the investigator believes the child’s testimony should be heard in the room.

38.Pursuant to Legislative Decree No. 53 (2012), the Code of Criminal Procedure was amended to regulate the protection of victims, witnesses, experts and others with information to impart in a case. Forms of protection include change of identity, change of place of residence, prohibition of the release of information relating to identity or place of residence, use of modern technology, such as video and audio links, to hear testimony and a temporary ban on disclosing witness identity until the court orders the ban to be lifted once the potential threat has passed. Protection is guaranteed at both the investigation and trial stages (arts. 127(bis), 223(bis).

39.Act No. 17 (2015), on protection from domestic violence, covers ways of protecting family members, including children, from physical, economic, psychological and sexual abuse. Accordingly, public Prosecution is responsible for the following:

Protection of a person reporting an incident of domestic violence by forbidding disclosure of name and identity unless judicial procedures so require.

Immediate corroboration of all information relevant to the report and parties involved; the information shall include the extent of violence against, in front of or involving the child.

If the situation calls for it, the immediate issue of a treatment order or transfer of the child to a shelter.

If the situation calls for it, the issue of protection orders for persons exposed to domestic violence in general, including restraining orders to prevent the offender from approaching the victim’s location.

Issue of a ruling to relocate temporarily the victim away from his/her family for the victim’s protection; reasons are to be given.

40.There is a judicial precedent mentioned in paragraph 24, whereby the accused were found guilty of crimes stipulated in the Penal Code and Children’s Act, the drafting of which took into account international conventions and treaties relating to child protection, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the General Assembly (November 1989).

(b)Bodies concerned with implementation of the Protocol

41.The following bodies coordinate and cooperate with a view to implementing the Optional Protocol: Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Public Prosecution, Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, Labour Market Regulatory Authority, National Commission for Childhood, National Institute for Human Rights, University of Bahrain, Bahrain Institute for Political Development and civil society organizations.

42.The National Commission for Childhood is the official body responsible for coordination between government, private sector and civil society organizations concerned with childhood, using a number of mechanisms. The Commission is chaired by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and is responsible for coordinating efforts. It also provides advice from the perspective of the child to ministries on projects, decisions, and statutory and technical issues. Nevertheless, coordination remains a major organizational challenge, given the large number of bodies concerned with childhood. The Commission is aware of the importance of coordination and of the need to continue trying to improve the effectiveness of existing mechanisms, while creating new mechanisms that focus on the primary role of fostering an authentic and effective partnership between all sectors of society concerned with childhood, including government bodies, the family, children, civil society and non-government organizations working for and with children.

43.Prime Ministerial Decision No. 28 (2018) reformed the National Commission for Childhood and increased its financial allocation, in recognition by the leadership of the importance and significance of the role played by the Commission in coordinating the labours of all sectors concerned with childhood. The Commission is formed from the relevant ministries and authorities concerned with childhood, as well as two members from civil society organizations.

44.The National Commission for Childhood took the initiative to develop the first national strategy for children (annexed) and action plan (annexed), launched on 11 September 2013, in partnership with the UNICEF Gulf Area Office and United Nations Development Programme office in Bahrain, following almost five years of joint action with a group of partners, including government and non-government bodies concerned with childhood, academics and experts working for and with children and parents and guardians. The strategy is based on the four principles of the Convention and covers all aspects of the lives of children in the Kingdom of Bahrain, including foreign children, from birth up to the age of 18.

45.Several government bodies have functions directly or indirectly related to implementation of the Protocol. Thus, the enforcement agencies of the Ministry of Interior have special competence in following up leads, conducting investigations and gathering evidence. The Public Prosecution investigates crimes relating to the Protocol and brings cases against persons accused of such crimes. The judicial authorities are responsible for trying cases and sentencing perpetrators under the relevant laws and provisions of Islamic Sharia.

46.Act No. 26 (2014) established the National Institute for Human Rights, which is an oversight body enjoying financial and administrative independence. It is not subject to supervision or control by any government body, thereby affirming its independence. This is consistent with General Comment No. 2 (2002) of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on the role of independent national human rights institutions in promoting and protecting the rights of the child. The Institute’s board of commissioners, consisting of eleven members, acts independently in determining working methods and procedures and how and when the Institute carries out its tasks.

47.Pursuant to the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (2011) and the recommendations issued following discussion of the combined periodic report (2012), Legislative Decree No. 20 (2016) was issued, amending certain provisions of Act No. 26 (2014) on the establishment of the National Institute for Human Rights, including the composition of a board of commissioners to affirm the independence of the Institute and its compatibility with the Paris Principles on the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. It accords the Institute wide-ranging powers to promote and protect human rights, as well as granting it legal, administrative and financial independence. The Act further grants the Institute wider authority to receive and monitor complaints, offer legal advice and conduct field visits to public places where violation of human rights is suspected of taking place. Furthermore, it grants the Institute greater access to information, as well as the power to make decisions without the interference or involvement of other parties.

48.The preamble to the Act establishing the National Institute for Human Rights makes reference to the conventions and agreements which the Kingdom has ratified or to which it has acceded. These include the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the Kingdom acceded pursuant to Legislative Decree No. 16 (1991).

49.In addition to the National Institute for Human Rights, the General Secretariat of the Independent Ombudsman at the Ministry of Interior was established pursuant to Decree No. 27 (2012), amended by Decree No. 35 (2013). This is an administratively and financially independent agency tasked with the independent examination of complaints submitted by persons of all ages, including those under the age of 18, against Ministry of Interior officials. It examines complaints brought against officials involving commission of a criminal offence in connection with, during or as a result of the exercise of their duties. The competent authority is then informed of the outcome of the examination. If the complaint is upheld, criminal and disciplinary measures will be initiated. The complainant and the accused will be advised of their right to be informed of the steps taken to examine the complaint and the outcome thereof.

50.The Ministry of Interior has special sections to receive reports and complaints relating to protection of the family. Attached to the Community Service Police in security directorates, these sections receive reports and complaints concerning family and child and seek to prevent children being led into delinquency. Cases are monitored and services provided in partnership with the competent bodies, including counseling, guidance, therapy and assistance with a view to preserving the family as an entity and ensuring it carries out its proper role toward the individual and society.

51.Department of Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the responsibilities and powers of the Ministry of Human Rights, previously part of the responsibilities of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Rights, were transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs upon establishment of the Department of Human Rights Affairs pursuant to Decree No. 68 (2016). The Department is competent to offer opinion and advice on human rights-related matters and issues referred to it and to express a view on draft international human rights conventions to which the Kingdom wishes to be a party. It works in coordination with the competent authorities, participating in the preparation of reports prepared by the Kingdom of Bahrain on human rights under international conventions and submitting them to the relevant international bodies. Furthermore, it prepares responses to reports of foreign governments on the human rights situation in the Kingdom, coordinating with the competent authorities, providing diplomatic missions and consulates abroad with information on human rights developments in the Kingdom, following up issues related to human rights locally and internationally, monitoring meetings and activities organized by regional and international human rights organizations in this sphere and coordinating with the concerned authorities in the Ministry and elsewhere in these labours. Additionally, it refers complaints of human rights violations received from abroad to the competent authorities and follows these up. It prepares plans and proposals to take advantage of the consultancy services and technical assistance provided by international organizations in the field of human rights. The Department also represents the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at local, regional and international conferences on human rights.

52.The Higher Coordinating Committee for Human Rights was established pursuant to the Decision No. 50 (2012) and reconstituted pursuant to Resolution No. 31 (2017), which clarified the Committee’s sphere of competence, including formulation of a coordination mechanism to ensure development of optimum policies for addressing human rights-related issues and preparing reports that the Kingdom of Bahrain is required to submit under the human rights conventions to which it has acceded.

53.In implementing the Protocol, government agencies support civil society organizations, which are key partners in promoting and protecting human rights. Many civil society organizations in the Kingdom deal with children, women and the family.

54.Among the civil society organizations involved with implementation of the Protocol are the Children and Mothers Welfare Society, Bahrain Women’s Association for Human Development and Bahrain Society for Child Development.

55.Child Helpline 998 was launched on 27 December 2011 to protect children. The helpline is falls under the organizational structure of the centre and receives all incoming calls. It is free for all children. Staff are committed to absolute confidentiality and respect for caller anonymity. The service is available around the clock to receive calls from children reporting violence, abuse or threat. Counseling, active listening, and psychological and social support are also provided to children over the phone. If necessary, cases are referred to the competent bodies. Telephone consultations are offered to the family or those concerned with the child and legal advice can be provided. Rapid intervention to save the child is provided in emergency cases, if the social worker feels it is necessary to take pre-emptive action.

(c)Dissemination of Protocol and provision of training

56.The Protocol was published in Issue No. 2652 (15 September 2004) of the Official Gazette and awareness of the Convention on the Rights of Child and Protocols thereto is raised through appropriate media and educational means.

57.To protect and promote human rights and train personnel to deal with such cases when they occur, the Royal Academy of Police organizes numerous courses, seminars and lectures focusing on human rights and the practice of security work in the light of human rights principles, for officers and ranks of the Ministry of both sexes. The Royal Academy also awards a diploma in human rights and some 145 students have completed the course requirements for the diploma since the program was introduced five years ago.

58.A diploma in social service is also awarded, with a view to qualifying individuals to deal appropriately with humanitarian cases and cases of violence against women and children, as well as other victims they may encounter in their work. Some 59 individuals have taken part in the diploma course.

59.Decree No. 69 (2005) established the Institute of Judicial and Legal Studies, which is attached to the Ministry of Justice. The Institute seeks to achieve the following goals:

1.To train judges, members of the Public Prosecution, members of the legal affairs department, legal advisers in State agencies and lawyers in the theory and practice of their work.

2.To train judicial assistants, notaries and legal investigators in order to raise levels of performance and develop skills.

3.To gather, store and disseminate legislation, documents, legal information and principles.

4.To develop and deepen academic research in order to raise the competence of trainees in the legal, judicial and jurisprudential fields, oil the wheels of justice and speed up decision-making.

5.To hold seminars; the Institute publishes a periodic journal to disseminate research and studies.

Given its belief in the importance of human rights, the Institute of Judicial and Legal Studies has implemented a number of training courses in the sphere of human rights, as follows:

1.Judicial year 2019–2020

(a)The Institute implemented two ongoing training programmes in the first half of judicial year 2019–2020, amounting to eight training hours, on the subject of mechanisms for promoting and protecting human rights.

(b)The Institute implemented two activities as part of the basic training programme for future judges, amounting to nine training hours, on the following subjects:

The role of constitutional judges in protecting rights and freedoms

The role of judicial and legal institutes in protecting human rights in the light of the constitution and the law.

2.Judicial year 2018–2019

(a)The Institute implemented eight ongoing training programmes in judicial year 2018–2019, amounting to 41 training hours, on the following subjects:

The skills of analysis and interpretation with a view to harmonizing national legislation with international human rights standards;

Seminar on the efforts of Bahrain to protect child offenders and victims;

Crimes of trafficking in persons: from legal processing to confidential questioning;

Mechanisms to promote and protect human rights;

International humanitarian law, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (Kuwait);

Constitutional guarantees for the protection of public rights and freedoms in the Kingdom of Bahrain;

Applications of the Penal Code and alternative measures (two programmes).

(b)The Institute implemented 12 activities as part of the basic training programme for legal investigators at the Public Prosecution (batch 6, year 2018–2019), amounting to 49 training hours, on the following subjects:

Assurances to the accused at the investigation stage;

Investigative skills in the sphere of human trafficking;

Investigative skills in crimes involving human life and limb;

Contractual mechanisms in the sphere of human rights in Bahrain;

Human rights in the context of international conventions and the role of the criminal court;

Investigative skills in crimes of torture and gathering of evidence;

Establishment, goals and jurisdiction of the special investigation unit;

Investigative skills in crimes of assembly, riot and demonstration;

The role of Public Prosecution in guaranteeing the protection of witnesses and victims at all stages of a criminal case;

Alternative penalties and measures;

Investigative skills in terrorist crimes;

Forms and mechanisms of international cooperation;

(c)The Institute implemented one activity as part of the basic training programme for lawyers (batch 11, year 2018–2019), amounting to 1.5 training hours, on the application of human rights conventions in Bahraini law

3.Judicial year 2017–2018

(a)The Institute implemented 11 training programmes in the course of judicial year 2017–2018, amounting to 83 training hours, on the following subjects:

Main features of the Penal Code and alternative measures and decisions issued in implementation thereof;

Formulation of alternative penalties; practising with selected hypothetical cases;

Controls on resorting to alternative measures rather than preventive custody;

Requirements for tackling terrorist crimes;

The French experience of alternative measures and penalties;

Workshop on alternative penalties working group;

International experience in implementing the penal code and alternative measures;

Workshop on alternative penalties working group;

The American experience of alternative measures and penalties;

Requirements for the effective protection of witnesses and victims;

Discussion session with children’s correctional justice expert team;

Criteria for assessing punishment and the principle of personality of punishment;

Rights of the defence (legal pleadings, aspects of substantive defence and response thereto);

(b)The Institute implemented 12 activities as part of the basic training programme for legal investigators at the Public Prosecution (batch 7, year 2017–2018), amounting to 49 training hours:

Assurances for the accused at the investigation stage;

Investigative skills in the sphere of human trafficking;

Investigative skills in crimes involving human life and limb;

Contractual mechanisms in the sphere of human rights in Bahrain;

Human rights in the context of international conventions and the role of the criminal court;

Investigative skills in crimes of torture and the gathering of evidence;

Establishment, goals and jurisdiction of the special investigation unit;

Investigative skills in crimes of assembly, riot and demonstration;

The role of Public Prosecution in guaranteeing the protection of witnesses and victims at all stages of a criminal case;

Alternative penalties and measures;

Investigative skills in terrorist crimes;

Forms and mechanisms of international cooperation;

(c)The Institute implemented 1 activity as part of the basic training programme for new lawyers at the Public Prosecution (batch 10, year 2017–2018), amounting to 1.5 training hours. The programme focuses on the application of human rights conventions in Bahraini law.

60.Between 2016 and 2019, the National Institute directly targeted children with summer camp activities, organized in cooperation with the Royal Police Academy, with a view to promoting the rights of the child. This is a programme designed to promote citizenship and the spirit of belonging among young people in the 12–17 age group, build their capacities, uncover their cultural, social and sporting talents, provide them with a sense of direction, help them to take advantage of their free time in ways that benefit them, their families and community, develop leadership and life skills and protect them from the scourges of crime and delinquency. The programme further encourages participants to prepare for the future, seize opportunities and confront challenges. It seeks to instil the spirit of discipline and altruism, make young people self-reliant, promote community engagement and strengthen the relationship between State institutions, society and youth. The Institute has delivered a number of introductory lectures and activities addressing the rights of the child, as these are set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Children’s Act. Furthermore, it has organized stimulating training programmes designed to introduce children and young people to the concepts of human rights, the right to a clean environment and public rights and freedoms. In 2017, the Institute organized a number of activities and events for young people, including a training programme focusing on youth leadership for peace and human rights. Several topics relating to human rights and the rights of the child were addressed, including good governance, peacebuilding, advocacy campaigns and gaining support. The Institute took part in the Bahrain Summer Festival for the second year in succession (2018 and 2019), organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. The Institute’s contribution was “Nakhool Tent”, an event consisting of several cultural and recreational activities that provide instruction in a new and enjoyable way. Educational workshops for children between the ages of eight to 11 are central to “Nakhool Tent”, which introduces human rights in general and the rights of the child in particular, providing a number of training and instructional activities, as well as competitions, to promote awareness of the human rights of this age group. For the second year in succession (2018 and 2019), the Institute organized introductory lectures and activities on the role of the Institute in promoting and protecting basic human rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain for children between the ages of nine and 14, as part of the Youth City 2030 project. This is a project organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sport Affairs, working closely with Economic Vision 2030, that focuses on promoting the role of young people in formulating the components of sustainable development on all fronts in Bahrain. The project offers a range of training programmes to help develop the skills and capacities of young people in diverse fields, empower them, promote their leadership qualities, mobilize their abilities and imbue them with a proper sense of direction. Over many years, the Institute has delivered introductory lectures on basic children’s rights to many pupils from government and private schools in Bahrain. It has delivered the same lectures to female pupils taking part in summer school programmes in the Northern Governorate, as part of efforts to promote national identity and consolidate values of citizenship. Additionally, the Institute organized a workshop on bullying and its impact on human rights. Officials from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, several civil society organizations and other stakeholders, especially those concerned with the rights of the child, participated in the event. Furthermore, the Institute took part on the 28th day of the Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad futsal tournament, organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sport Affairs, in partnership with the press office of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad, under the slogan, “Forum for the generations”. The forum supports initiatives for young people in sport and humanity, consistent with Sustainable Development Goal No. 3: “To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages.” The Institute publishes a colouring book dealing with the rights of the child and containing drawings to be coloured by the infant. Alongside the drawings are passages taken from national legislation, such as the Constitution and the Children’s Act, and articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with a focus on the right to draw. The aim is to instruct children in a stimulating, educational and artistic way. The Institute also publishes a pamphlet on child rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This introduces basic rights in appealing ways and in simple language, through which children can learn. As an observer of the 2018 parliamentary and municipal elections, the Institute monitored the exploitation by certain candidates of children as electoral propaganda. There were numbers of children in front of the polling station wearing clothes with the images of candidates or other propaganda images and distributing leaflets and bottles of water. It should be noted that, in 2015, the Institute submitted an initiative to the Government proposing that articles 60 and 69 of the Children’s Act No. 37 (2012) be amended to make the use of children in elections a criminal offence. It further proposed the introduction of deterrent penalties for such serious criminal acts. The Institute re-submitted its proposal to criminalize the use of children in the electoral process and introduce appropriate deterrent penalties to ensure the best interests of the child. However, since the establishment of the Institute to date, no case of child exploitation in prostitution or child pornography has come to light or been filed.

61.The Bahrain Institute for Political Development is a key institution helping to promote human rights and train all sections of society in this field, pursuant to the goals set out in Decree No. 39 (2005, amended), on the establishment of the Institute. These goals consist in carrying out human rights studies in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Constitution and principles of the National Action Charter, supporting centres and associations focused on the protection of human rights and teaching the foundations, frameworks and principles of the modern reform project of the Kingdom of Bahrain. As such, the Institute offers a range of diverse events throughout the year, including a human rights program for public security officers, a rights program for public sector staff, the “Ambassadors of the Nation” program, a summer camp for students of the Royal Academy of Police and a national rights of the child competition. The Institute also publishes books and scientific studies, including legal mechanisms for protecting human rights nationally and internationally; political culture; human rights; the right to a healthy environment under the Bahraini constitutional system; and human rights law at national and international levels.

62.The University of Bahrain represents the pinnacle of higher education in the Kingdom of Bahrain and is responsible for driving the wheel of scientific progress in the country by producing highly skilled graduates who embody the true meaning of humanity and the constants of human rights. The University has sought to focus on several human rights themes, which we might summarize as follows:

The Legal Clinic for Human Rights

Pursuant to a genuine desire to promote human rights, the University of Bahrain launched in 2013 a programme – The Legal Clinic for Human Rights – in cooperation with the American Bar Association, with the aim of providing practical training for students of the Faculty of Law, enabling them to acquire a range of legal skills to qualify them for the job market and spread the culture of collective and voluntary work. There is no doubt that the launch of such a programme will help to spread awareness of the basic principles of human rights. The Legal Clinic for Human Rights is an optional, applied course for students of the Faculty of Law, which trains students using real life cases under the supervision of practising lawyers, from the initial steps of opening the case file, collecting evidence, hearing witness testimony and preparing defence briefs, followed by trial and sentencing, as well as the writing of advisory opinions (for example, writing an advisory opinion on safeguards for the protection of children in the judicial system). Another group of Clinic students is trained to organize workshops for school pupils on a specific human rights topic, set by the professors each semester. The training program for the Legal Clinic course is not limited to the student completing the tasks assigned by the instructors. He is also tasked with spreading legal awareness in the local community by delivering lectures in schools and organizing awareness campaigns in shopping malls and the like with the aim of spreading the culture of human rights and legal aid. These include, for example, a campaign on cyberbullying among children, (30 November 2019) at Water Garden, in a suburb of the Seef district of Manama and aimed at the general public with a view to educating parents and children; a lecture for parents and guardians on online grooming of children, held in cooperation with the Southern Governorate Police Directorate (5 December 2019); a campaign on online extortion and child protection (30 November 2019) at Water Garden, aimed at the general public with a view to educating parents and children; a workshop on child consumer rights for middle school pupils, in cooperation with the Consumer Protection Department of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism; a campaign entitled, “Together to combat human trafficking” for University of Bahrain students; and a debate in the Council of Representatives on protecting children from energy drinks and smoking. In addition to training students, the legal clinic organizes lectures and events to raise awareness of human rights. For example, in academic year 2018/19, several lectures and events were organized on a range of topics, perhaps the most significant of which are: rights of the child under international conventions; rights of persons with disabilities; human rights from an educational perspective; human rights and business; alternative punishment law; environmental rights; digital rights; and combating human trafficking.

63.The Ministry of Education seeks to enshrine the values that foster development of the principles of human rights and fundamental freedoms among students at all educational levels. As well as including these in the school curricula, the Ministry incorporates them in extra-curricular programs and activities. Details are as follows:

Continuous review and development of the curricula at all levels to foster the principles of human rights, particularly in the light of the changes which Bahraini society has undergone and the global developments linked to human values. The Ministry focuses on continuous development and revision of the curricula, with the help of global consultancy firms and international organizations, to include content relating to citizenship at all levels in both government and private schools, as well as the principles of human rights and freedoms, the sense of belongingness, the bases of the democratic system and demands of coexistence and equality as the prerogative for all without sectarian discrimination.

These values are incorporated in many other curricula as most courses, such as social subjects and Arabic language, already contain certain aspects of them. Furthermore, the Ministry has introduced life skills and community service curricula and provided training in the exercise of citizenship and human rights. These curricula seek to enshrine the values of community engagement, coexistence, learning to live together and self-development, as well as providing special focus on human rights, tolerance and coexistence, in an independent and integrated curriculum. Note that the Ministry has produced leaflets and pamphlets dealing with these values and principles.

Implementation of a number of programmes and workshops with the aim of instilling the spirit of citizenship, promoting national unity and enshrining the principles and values of human rights. With the help of experts from UNESCO (International Bureau of Education, Geneva) and distinguished universities, study sessions and workshops have been organized for teachers specializing in social subjects and citizenship education, alongside internal workshops organized by the Ministry of Education on mutual respect and tolerance, with the aim of spreading the values of tolerance, coexistence and non-violence among school pupils and fostering the values of national unity, tolerance, goodwill, national solidarity and rejection of all forms of religious, sectarian and ethnic discrimination at all educational levels.

Inclusion of human rights content in cultural and educational competitions organized by the Ministry and implemented in schools, including drawing and writing, as well as student forums, lectures and exhibitions.

Implementation by schools of a number of events relating to these values, including national festivals and human rights activities.

Implementation of a school project promoting citizenship and human rights, representing the concluding stage of the Ministry’s efforts to promote citizenship and spread a culture of tolerance and coexistence. It combines theoretical studies and practical activities inside and outside the school to build a citizenship society, transforming the school into a small-scale social space where the best practices of citizenship and tolerance prevail. Having adopted many international guidelines, this project has been described as a pioneering experience that deserves to be rolled out globally, due to the great success it has achieved in spreading the values of tolerance, coexistence, dialogue, non-violence and the rejection of extremism through innovative activities and projects.

Participation by the Ministry in a national forum on the role of educational institutions in confronting violence and aggression, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2013, in collaboration with experts from the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(ICESCO).

Ministry membership of a national task force to formulate a strategy to address issues and curb violence, in cooperation with the ministries of health, labour and social development and interior.

Implementation of the UNESCO Associated Schools project, encouraging contacts and establishing links between schools and institutions at national and international levels and exchanging experience and initiatives, while looking into the possibility of taking advantage of field experience to promote international understanding and achieve sustainable development.

Monitoring private schools as part of the Ministry’s supervisory and administrative responsibilities, with a view to checking the progress of the educational process and the extent of commitment to implementing the instructions issued by the Ministry to promote national unity and the values of citizenship, human rights, tolerance, coexistence and education for all in a framework that conveys the concepts of patriotism and consolidates the values of tolerance, coexistence, life skills and equality without discrimination between students.

Preparation of a curriculum based on the pedagogy of kindergarten level 3, which the Ministry began to roll out in school year 2014/2015. The curriculum includes a wide range of pedagogical inputs consistent with the level of awareness of the child at this stage, including the activities of the Watani Bahrain (“Bahrain is my homeland”) project. The aim is to instil a sense of citizenship and loyalty to the homeland and the leadership, accept difference of opinion and enshrine the principles of human rights and freedoms. The Ministry has trained kindergarten teachers to apply this curriculum and the plan is to train other groups of teachers in the future. The Ministry has distributed the curriculum to kindergartens and provided guidelines for teachers, parents and guardians.

With a view to promoting the values of human rights in higher education, the Higher Education Council took the decision to make the human rights curriculum taught by the University of Bahrain compulsory in all institutes of higher education.

64.Development of the human rights curriculum at the University of Bahrain

The university introduced a new, compulsory course entitled, “Principles of Human Rights” for university students of all majors, with effect from the second semester of academic year 2012/13. The course deals with the main international sources of human rights – the Charter of the United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Two Protocols thereto and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – and the various types of rights: civil, political, economic, social and cultural and their application in Bahrain. The course also involves the study of international and national human rights monitoring mechanisms.

Alongside the “Principles of Human Rights”, the Faculty of Law has introduced compulsory and elective courses directly relating to human rights and international law as part of the course of study for undergraduate students in the Faculty. Compulsory courses include: public international law (taught in English), family law judgements, international organizations (taught in English), human rights (dealing with specific rights in greater depth, such as the rights of women, children, persons with disabilities and international conventions). Elective courses on human rights are: the Legal Clinic for Human Rights, intellectual property law, environmental legislation and international jurisdiction (taught in English).

(d)National plans and strategies designed to implement the Protocol

65.Economic Vision 2030 (annexed), launched by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in October 2008, is a comprehensive economic vision for the Kingdom of Bahrain, setting out a clear direction for the development of the Bahraini economy. Essentially, it is the reflection of the fundamental common goal of building a better life for all Bahrainis.

66.Economic Vision 2030 was launched after four years of intensive discussions with opinion formers in the public and private sectors, including government organizations, specialized agencies, consultancy firms and global corporations. It focuses on the formulation of a vision for government, society and the economy, based upon three key guiding principles: sustainability, justice and competitiveness.

67.The Economic Development Board, after launching Economic Vision 2030, instituted an ongoing programme of economic and institutional reforms as part of that vision. Playing a leading role, the Board worked in cooperation with various ministries to develop the first approved national economic strategy as the roadmap to achieving the vision.

68.Economic Vision 2030 will achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is a government priority. The 17 SDGs are linked to the executive procedures of the government’s action programme for the years 2015–2018 and 2019–2022.

69.The Kingdom of Bahrain completed the formulation of a rights-based national strategy for childhood in 2013 to which a detailed action plan for 2013–2017 was annexed. This was approved by the Cabinet and directives were issued to government agencies to proceed with implementation. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development coordinated the various elements of the strategy and supervised follow-up of implementation with concerned partners in the Kingdom, including ministries, agencies and civil society organizations. The strategy represents a comprehensive and integrated vision and a framework that seeks to foster the development of children in the light of values and guiding principles. It also represents a national declaration and commitment on the part of the government to support civil society institutions and the private sector to enable children to obtain their rights in full and create an active generation that enjoys the spirit of responsibility and good citizenship.

70.The strategy consists of the key pillars of four rights-based themes and came about as the product of a series of consultations with various partners in Bahrain, joined by representatives from government agencies and civil society organizations, in addition to groups of children themselves, parents and guardians and several government and private school teachers. The themes are based on the following rights:

The right to life and health;

The right to education and capacity building;

The right to protection;

The right to participation and non-discrimination.

71.The National Strategy for Childhood and annexed action plan (2013–2017) contains a series of development and preventive programmes distributed among partners on the basis of their duties and responsibilities toward children.

72.The National Commission for Childhood is responsible for monitoring and following-up implementation of the national strategy action plan (2013–2017). Following Cabinet approval, the term of the action plan was extended for a further five years (2018–2022) to complete implementation of the remainder of the plan, enhance outcomes and gains in the field of childhood development and protection and increase cooperation between the various bodies with a view to expanding the beneficiary base.

73.The next action plan will be based on evaluation of the previous phase and include defined action tracks, redrawn indicators and redefined budget paths on the basis of which all bodies concerned with childhood will be required to operate.

74.Various government bodies have adopted strategies and action plans, of which the most important are:

National strategy for persons with disabilities (2012–2015);

National strategy for special education (2013–2017);

National plan for the advancement of Bahraini women (2013–2022);

National strategy for the protection of women from domestic violence (2015–2022);

Strategy for health improvement (2015–2018);

Strategy of the Ministry of Youth and Sport.

75.Act No. 26 (2014, amended), establishing the National Institute for Human Rights, emphasizes the Institute’s role in promoting human rights. Article 12 grants the Institute a set of powers designed to achieve its goals by participating in the formulation and implementation of a national plan to promote human rights nationwide, studying rights-related legislation and regulations in force and recommending such amendments as it deems appropriate, especially with regard to ensuring the consistency of existing legislation with the Kingdom’s international human rights obligations and recommending the introduction of new human rights legislation.

76.The Act also grants the National Institute the authority to examine the compatibility of legislative and regulatory provisions with regional and international treaties concerned with human rights issues, including recommending accession to regional and international conventions, submitting parallel reports, contributing to the drafting and discussion of periodic reports submitted by the Kingdom and making observations thereon, in application of regional and international human rights agreements and circulating these in the media, in cooperation with national, regional and international organizations and relevant institutions in other countries concerned with the promotion of human rights.

77.Pursuant to its engagement with international mechanisms seeking to promote and protect human rights, especially the rights of the child, the National Institute submitted a parallel report to the combined fourth to sixth periodic reports of the Kingdom of Bahrain, on progress made in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to the 80th session of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. This covers the efforts and activities of the National Institute to promote and protect the rights of children, as well as the most significant challenges and recommendations concerning several of the rights set out in the Convention (annex: Strategy and action plan of the National Institute for Human Rights).

(e)Participation of civil society in implementing the Protocol

78.Civil society organizations concerned with family and child have an effective role to play in implementing the Protocol. Indeed, civil society is a core partner in the promotion and protection of human rights. There are numerous civil society organizations concerned with children, women and the family. To promote the role of civil society, Legislative Decree No. 21 (1989) was issued, promulgating the law on social and cultural associations and clubs, private bodies working in the field of youth and sports, private organizations. Furthermore, Decision No. 4 (2007) was issued, concerning model regulations for the statutes of social and cultural associations and clubs under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Development, which regulates the work of civil organizations and sets out rights and duties. A volunteer development centre has also been established, which seeks to foster and regulate voluntary work among members of society.

Pursuant to the collective responsibility which civil society organizations share to ensure that the principles of human rights and public freedoms are respected by all, the Woman and Child Information Center, attached to the Children and Mothers Welfare Society, has implemented a series of programmes, conferences, seminars, workshops and contractual studies. It has also inaugurated the Sheikh Khalifah bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Scientific Award. Furthermore, the Centre publishes scientific material, the most important of which can be listed as follows:

Proceedings of a symposium on the problems of childhood in Bahraini society;

A study on the impact of virtual social networks on actual social relations of young people in the Kingdom of Bahrain;

A study on how Arab legislation deals with the issues of children of unknown parentage: a comparative analysis in the light of international human rights conventions;

Proceedings of a symposium and ceremony held to honour the winners of the eighth Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Scientific Award entitled, “The Social Network and its Effects on Children and Youth”.

79.The “Be free” program of the Bahrain Women’s Association for Human Development, which is directly concerned with the protection of children and adolescents, was launched in 2002, under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Mary Robinson. The programme is basically concerned with protecting children and adolescents from abuse and neglect and building their personalities to enable them to have a positive role and impact in society. It also works together with children, adolescents, educators, parents and guardians, children and adolescents with disabilities and teachers and other professionals working with children and the community in a broad sense. The program has implemented many projects, including:

“ I am a strong, clever and safe child. ”

This project began with the introduction of the “Be free” programme in 2002, under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Mary Robinson; it is still in operation.

Goals:

To empower children to acquire the basic skills to protect against abuse;

To build a culture of coexistence, based upon humanitarian concepts and noble values, among children and those who work with them; to encourage children to build their decisions and actions on these bases;

To build a community culture that cares for the welfare of children and development of their personalities.

“ I am a strong, smart and safe child … despite my disability ”

Statistics show that a child with disabilities is five times more likely to be a victim of abuse than his able-bodied peers and that the majority of children with disabilities have been subjected to some sort of sexual harassment or abuse while still under the age of 18. Accordingly, the “Be free” program inaugurated a project entitled, “I am a strong, smart and safe child … despite my disability”, in 2009. This project, which aims to protect children and adolescents from abuse, was rolled out under the auspices and in the presence of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on persons with disabilities.

Goals

To enable children and adolescents with disabilities to acquire the skills of self-protection and basic life skills; to build the personalities of children and adolescents and help them to see themselves as effective actors;

To work in partnership with parents and guardians and help them to address matters concerning their children’s behaviour and view of themselves as disabled;

To build a culture of human development by treating the disabled in such a way as to raise their self-image as human beings, increase the awareness of society and focus on the humanity of the disabled rather than the disability.

“ Smart and more ” , designed to protect children and adolescents from the risks of the Internet and modern technology

This project was inaugurated as a result of the widespread use of the Internet among children and emergence of new and unprecedented dangers.

Goals

To enable children and young people, by employing basic concepts and skills, to protect themselves online;

To spread awareness among educators and those working with children;

To contribute to the passage of laws consistent with the modern age to help children and adolescents;

To push Internet providers to provide safer services for children;

To work in partnership with local and international organizations.

Main achievements of the project

A visit to government agencies and civil society organizations in the United Kingdom that have long experience of protecting children from online dangers; a briefing on measures proposed by members of parliament;

A study on the reality of Internet use in Bahrain;

A short film highlighting the gap between parents and children regarding the use of modern technology;

Organization of the first conference in the Middle East on effective strategies to protect children from online grooming and trafficking, with the participation and attendance of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children;

Hundreds of interactive training workshops for children and adolescents on basic skills of protection from online dangers;

Two booklets on protection from online dangers, for distribution at the end of training workshops;

Organization of specialized train the trainer workshops on protecting children from online dangers, with a detailed training manual.

Mum ’ s club

The “Be free” programme has set up a special club for mothers that meets once a month to discuss important matters relating to bringing up children, protecting them from the challenges of their situation and developing their personalities.

The club seeks to help mothers by creating a sheltered space where mothers can feel safe and relaxed sharing their experiences with their children, discussing challenges and difficulties and learning new child-rearing and practical skills to enrich the family and the learning process. The club also helps mothers to build a loving and trusting relationship with their children and to form experiences that their children will benefit from in the future.

The club invites specialists in various fields, depending on the areas where mothers need help.

Outputs of the “ Be free ” programme

Training manuals

Training manual on basic online protection skills for children and adolescents;

Training manual on communicating child rights to children;

Training manuals on basic protection skills for children with audiovisual disabilities, simple intellectual disabilities and motor disabilities.

80.The Bahrain Society for Childhood Development is concerned with a range of issues relating to childhood – human, health-related, legal, cultural, social, psychological, legislative etc. Further to this concern, the Society has organized a series of activities and programmes designed to shed light on the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. It has publicized the issue of child abuse and associated psychological and sexual suffering of children and proposed ways of tackling the problem. Measures include:

Printing booklets on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Optional Protocols and distributing these to the appropriate bodies and government bodies for incorporation in future plans and programmes.

Organizing numerous cultural seminars, workshops and lectures dealing with issues of abused and battered children and child labour; focusing on all forms of violence against children, including physical, sexual and psychological violence and seeking to disseminate a culture of non-violence against children.

Working in cooperation and coordination with agencies and ministries concerned with children, civil society organizations specializing in child welfare and various media outlets with the aim of combining efforts to address violence against children by planning and developing activities and programmes designed to afford protection for children from all forms of violence, including sexual abuse.

Organizing rehabilitation, awareness and counselling programmes for families in the field of the rights of the child. These take the form of dialogue sessions and lectures on sound methods of social and domestic upbringing and ways of protecting children from the violence and dangers around them; using preventive and therapeutic methods to distance the child from the factors which make a child vulnerable to violence both inside and outside the family.

The Society has organized a series of forums dealing with the issue of child protection, including:

Forum on child pornography films, as one element of sexual exploitation;

Domestic education project for mother and child;

Combatting the phenomenon of child labour;

Forum on human rights;

Forum on child safety in public gardens and parks.

Pursuant to its concern with childhood issues and awareness of the role of globalization in shaping the consciousness and ideas of children, the Society organized a workshop on “Childhood and globalization” (25 February 2009), covering the theme of networking strategy as a first step toward promoting the role of child welfare associations in combatting violence against children in the age of globalization. The theme addressed the following:

Globalization of violence against children;

Scale, methods and forms of violence against children in society;

Child welfare associations and tackling violence against children;

The concept of networking strategy.

In the light of its concern with legal protection for children with a view to eradicating all forms of violence against them, the Society convened a conference (18–19 May 2009) on the rights of the child, the themes of which included:

Rights of the child in Bahraini legislation compared with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).

Legal protection of the child from the criminal standpoint, dealing with:

Crimes against the life, physical integrity and honour of a child; crimes of immorality and prostitution; crimes against the liberty of a child;

Legal protection of the child: between the reality and ambitions for the future, within the framework of the Arab League and at regional and international levels;

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child;

World Declarationon the Survival, Protection and Development of Children.

Child protection provided for in the Penal Code, addressing:

Protection of the child from exposure to danger, indecency, prostitution, rape and abuse;

Protection of the child from economic exploitation; status of the child in Bahraini employment legislation and social insurance.

Several editions of “Childhood” magazine, an annual publication devoted to childhood have been published by the Bahrain Society for Childhood Development. Research discussed at the Society’s conferences includes working papers dealing with these subjects:

Child pornography films;

The rights of the child;

Safety of children in gardens and parks;

Socio-economic determinants of child labour;

Online sexual exploitation of children;

Combatting the phenomenon of child labour.

The Society convened a conference entitled, “Protecting children from abuse and neglect by protecting the family and strengthening legislation”, under the gracious auspices of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister and in collaboration with UNICEF, on 20–22 October 2001. Conference activities were arranged in seven working sessions, covering the following themes: monitoring the phenomenon of abuse and neglect in the Arab world and causes thereof; the media, Internet and culture; assessment, by-products and consequences of abuse; prevention of abuse; legislation to tackle the phenomenon; and plans and strategies to ensure protection of children from abuse. The conference adopted several recommendations under the following themes:

Planning and coordination;

Legislation;

Culture and the media;

Education, training and scientific research;

Family, society and therapeutic intervention.

The conference shed light on the important issue of child abuse. Four research papers were reviewed, shedding light on fundamental aspects of this issue. The most important of these research papers was the first, on the online grooming of children. It dealt with the dangers facing children, channels of risk and the sexual exploitation of children online. The following themes were addressed.

Online safety guidelines for children;

Safeguarding confidentiality of personal information;

Exercising caution when building a direct relationship with someone met online;

Taking care when replying to messages having an aggressive, obscene or immoral tone;

Online safety guidelines for parents;

Setting out clear guidelines for child access to the Internet;

Building bridges of trust and encouraging children to be open;

Intervening to protect children on the Internet;

Steps toward addressing the problem at Arab level;

Spreading popular awareness, convincing the appropriate bodies and benefitting from global expertise.

The Bahrain Society for Childhood Development adopted the issue of violence against children as the theme of its 2009 annual calendar to draw attention to the issue of violence against children in all its forms and to help curb the phenomenon. It represents a call for action to combine official and civil society efforts to intervene and provide protection, care and prevention in the form of united national action within an integrated framework. It further seeks to focus attention on protecting children from violence by creating an effective mechanism to stop the spread of violence and eradicate the problem, building a network of contacts, formulating comprehensive national programmes to tackle a range of related issues and finding guaranteed solutions to address violence in all its forms. Much effort has gone into developing a draft integrated national strategy, based on solid foundations and containing plans for enactment of the laws necessary to provide children with legislative protection from violence and abuse. The calendar was illustrated by children themselves to draw attention to the problem.

(f)Monitoring and oversight mechanisms

81.Founded in 2007 under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, the Child Protection Centre has responsibility for protecting children from violence and abuse. In the event of a child presenting who has been forced into prostitution or sexually exploited, the Centre provides legal, social, psychological and health services, pursuant to the Children’s Act, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Public Prosecution and Ministry of Interior.

82.The work of the Child Protection Centre includes spreading awareness in the community of the rights of the child and how children can take steps to protect themselves from sexual exploitation. The Centre also arranges lectures and training workshops for children, parents/guardians and those working with children, such as teachers and social workers.

83.Child Helpline 998 was set up in 2011 as a free helpline, receiving reports of violence against children in complete confidentiality, while ensuring the privacy of the complainant, if requested. The line receives reports from members of the public, including children themselves, relatives and well-wishers. Services include telephone counselling and active listening. The helpline also handles emergency cases in coordination with the relevant authorities; such cases are transferred to the authorities. The helpline has contributed to spreading awareness in society of children’s rights.

84.The Kingdom of Bahrain has taken preventive measures to combat prostitution and human trafficking, particularly of children, formulating legislation to protect them and ensure their best interests (see the Children’s Act). Review of these laws by the competent bodies is ongoing.

85.The Ministry of Labour and Social Development has set up shelters for children of broken families to protect them from abuse and guarantee their rights; these include Bayt Batelco, Dar al-Aman and Dar al-Karama.

86.Public Prosecution is responsible for a significant part of the monitoring and follow-up of implementation of Protocol, previously referred to in paragraph 34.

87.Pursuant to the act of its establishment, the National Institute has been granted semi-judicial powers to comment freely on human rights-related issues and handle any such case it sees fit. Article 12 (e, f, and g), respectively, of article 12 stipulate that, to achieve its goals, the National Institute is competent to monitor cases of human rights violations, conduct investigations, bring these to the attention of the competent authorities, submit proposals for initiatives aimed at curbing abuse and, if necessary, express an opinion on the position and reactions of the authorities.

88.In addition to its mandate to receive, scrutinize and investigate human rights-related complaints, refer those it deems appropriate to the competent authorities and carry out rigorous follow-up, the National Institute advises stakeholders of the necessary procedures and helps them to settle these with the authorities. Furthermore, the National Institution conducts announced and unannounced field visits to monitor human rights conditions in correctional institutions, places of detention, labour camps, health and educational centres and any public place suspected of harbouring human rights violations (annex: Guide to receiving complaints and legal assistance provided).

89.Despite its wide-ranging mandate to protect the rights of the child pursuant to the powers granted it under the act of its establishment, the National Institute has not received any complaint or application for legal aid relating to the forced labour of children.

V.Preventive measures

(a)Protection of children most vulnerable to the crimes covered by the Protocol.

(Article 9 (1, 2))

90.As part of a framework of integrated social welfare regulations, the Kingdom of Bahrain has introduced a package of measures for citizens, both individuals and families, to help maintain their dignity and ensure social stability. Additionally, there are direct cash support programs designed to address economic challenges. Childhood is one of the areas that legislation has focused on with a view to ensuring that children are protected from neglect and exploitation. Act No. 18 (2006), on social security, identifies 11 categories of beneficiary who have no source of income or insufficient income to live on. Children under the age of 18 fall into two categories: “child”, which means any male or female under the age of 18; also covered are those who are older and have no source of support or insufficient funds to live on, provided they can prove they are in full-time education, until a first degree is obtained; and “orphan”, which covers anyone whose father has died, has no-one able to support him, has insufficient funds to live on or who is an orphan of unknown parentage. There are, in addition, other social security categories that cover children and with regard to which the greater the number of family members, the greater the amount of assistance disbursed: BD 70 for one person, BD 120 for two persons and a further BD 25 for each additional person. Social security claimants also enjoy reduced monthly electricity and water charges. This is a royal bounty to reduce the cost of electricity and water for needy Bahraini families, in coordination with the Electricity and Water Authority. This category of children is also eligible for the limited income financial support programme, designed to prevent likely economic hardship. Those with an income of less than BD 1,000 are entitled to income support of BD 100, 70 or 50, in accordance with income category.

91.Furthermore, an allowance of BD 100 per month is paid to each person with a disability pursuant to Ministerial Decision No. 24 (2008), on the criteria for eligibility for the disability allowance, which classifies disabilities as physical, mental, visual impairment, hearing impairment, autism, cerebral palsy and multiple. Bahraini children with disabilities receive this allowance. Note that article 3 of the Decision was amended in 2017 to widen the scope of entitlement to include non-Bahraini children of Bahraini women permanently resident in the Kingdom.

92.It is worth noting that, each year on the occasion of the month of Ramadan, an additional payment is made to all beneficiaries of social security assistance and disability allowance by the wise leadership, keen to ease the cost of living for low-income Bahraini families during the holy month.

93.The law combating begging and vagrancy contains procedures and measures for controlling begging and vagrancy by juveniles and children and sets out the welfare and protection services that Bahrain provides in such cases following arrest.

94.These measures are set out in the Juvenile Welfare Law and juveniles are to be treated in accordance with the cases stated therein.

95.The Social Welfare Unit of the Juvenile Welfare Center at the Ministry of Interior is committed to employing social measures to protect vulnerable children and those proven to have been subjected to neglect or abuse of whatever kind who do not have a trustworthy guardian. Information on a case is collected and a report on the child submitted to the juvenile court judge. If the child is properly behaved and does not suffer from moral or behavioural problems, the judge may recommend that the child be admitted a children’s home. If the child suffers from behavioural or moral delinquency and is in need of reform and rehabilitation, the judge will recommend that he be placed in a juvenile welfare center, with reports to be submitted every six months. This arrangement may continue or be replaced with other measures on the basis of a judicial examination or the juvenile may be entrusted to the care of a trustworthy guardian. Monitoring will take place at increasingly longer intervals until the authorities are reassured that he is no longer a risk.

96.Upon completion of the period of detention, the aftercare unit will monitor the juvenile in his family environment to ensure his safety and prevent him from being led into delinquency by the risks presented in his local environment. Follow-up measures include enrolment of the juvenile in a Ministry of Education school, finding suitable job opportunities, keeping in touch by means of visits and ongoing contact with family and school to ascertain the juvenile’s diligence. Once his behaviour has stabilized, visits will become separated by increasingly longer intervals until the follow-up phase concludes.

97.The national programme, Maan (“Together”), seeks to combat violence and addiction at all levels in Ministry of Education schools in Bahrain, with the aim of creating a well-informed generation capable of making optimum decisions to prevent them from drifting into crime and delinquency, equipping them with sound behavioural skills to foster a sense of security and self-control in young minds faced with hazardous situations. Children are taught a set of subjects as part of an integrated curriculum appropriate to age group. Outputs are linked to national plan indicators in the sphere of child prevention and protection programmes and are consistent with many of the indicators contained in the charters and conventions to which Bahrain is committed. Note that some 90,000 male and female students have undertaken the programme.

98.Programmes include training a select group of Community Service Police to qualify them to deal with children of all ages and enable them to convey pedagogical and preventive information and messages targeting all age groups with the highest degree of effectiveness. Programme outputs are linked to national planning indicators in the sphere of childhood and the family.

99.The Royal Police Academy organizes the annual Academy Sumer Camp in which young people of both sexes participate. The programme aims to foster citizenship, instil Islamic identity, promote the democratic path and acceptance of the other and ensure the beneficial and productive use of young people’s free time to keep them safe from exploitation and abuse. The programme is replete with pedagogical, educational and recreational topics and activities designed to promote proper social upbringing, foster the sound practice of citizenship and instil the principles of self-protection and self-control in young minds, preventing them from drifting into crime and delinquency. The programme is held annually and this year marked the 11th session. In 2019, some 1,185 children took part.

VI.Prohibition and related issues

Article 3, article 4 (2, 3), articles 5, 6 and 7

(a)Articles on the prohibition of the sale of children and their exploitation in child prostitution and child pornography

100.The articles previously set out in paragraph 20, relating to crimes of rape, indecent assault, indecent acts, trafficking in persons, publishing pornographic images and using technology to produce child pornography are to be reviewed.

(b)Maximum and minimum penalties; aggravating circumstances

101.As regards penalties for adult offenders, as well as aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the articles previously set out in paragraph 20, relating to crimes of rape, indecent assault, indecent acts, trafficking in persons, publishing pornographic images and using technology to produce child pornography are to be reviewed.

102.It should be noted that, if the juvenile court convicts an offender, it does not sentence him on the basis of a punishment model but to one or other of the measures provided for in the juvenile law namely, reprimand, extradition, enrolment in a vocational training institution determined by decision of the Minister of Social Development, community service, judicial examination, placement in a government or private social care facility or admission to a specialized hospital. The choice of measure remains at the discretion of the court in light of the gravity of the crime and the extent of the danger to society represented by the juvenile and his situation.

(c)Statute of limitations

103.Penalties and criminal procedures set out in Bahraini law in accordance with classification of the crime; provisions governing expiry of a criminal case and lapse of punishment.

Article 49 of the Penal Code

Punishment for felony crimes shall include death, imprisonment and forfeiture of civil rights for a period of between three and 15 years.

Article 50 of the Penal Code

Punishment for misdemeanour crimes shall include imprisonment, a minimum fine of BD 5 and forfeiture of civil rights for a period of up to three years and not less than one year.

Article 18 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

A criminal act involving a felony shall expire upon the passage of 10 years; involving a misdemeanour, it shall expire upon the passage of three years; and involving an infraction, it shall expire upon the passage of one year from the date the crime was committed, unless the law stipulates otherwise.

Article 19 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

The validity of the period upon which a criminal act expires shall not be suspended for any reason whatsoever.

Article 20

The period upon which a criminal act expires may be interrupted by investigation, indictment or trial procedures, judicial order or the collection of evidence, if these procedures are taken against the defendant or if formal notice thereof is given; a new period shall apply from the date of interruption. If multiple procedures interrupt the period, validity shall begin from the date of the last procedure.

Article 383

The penalty for a felony shall lapse upon the passage of 20 years, unless it involves a capital offence, in which case it shall lapse upon the passage of 30 years. The penalty for a misdemeanour shall lapse upon the passage of five years and the penalty for an infraction shall lapse upon the passage two years.

Article 385

The period shall commence from the date on which the sentence becomes final, unless the verdict is delivered in absentia in a felony case,in which case the period shall commence from the date of delivery of the verdict. The lapsed period of a measure imposed with a sentence of deprivation of liberty shall only commence after conclusion of implementation or lapse upon expiry of the period.

Article 386

The period shall be interrupted upon arrest of the person sentenced to deprivation of liberty and other measures against him of which he has knowledge in law or if during this time the convict commits a crime of the same or similar type as the one of which he has been convicted.

Article 387

The validity of the period shall be suspended by any legal or material obstacle preventing implementation, including departure of the convict abroad.

(d)Other related crimes

104.These were previously referred to in paragraph 20.

(e)Mandatory penalties under the laws of the State party

105.Provisions for attempting to commit an offence and being an accomplice to an offence under the Penal Code

Attempting to commit a crime

Article 36

Attempting to commit a crime is the intention on the part of a principal actor to carry out an act that leads directly to the commission of an offence, even if it is not completed. The mere intention to commit a crime or acts in preparation for commission is not held to be an attempt to commit a crime.

Article 37

Attempting to commit felony crimes shall be punishable as follows, unless the law stipulates otherwise:

Life imprisonment, if the sentence is death;

A term of imprisonment, if the sentence is life imprisonment.

If the sentence is a term of imprisonment, the punishment shall be imprisonment for not more than half the maximum term stipulated or not less than three months.

Article 38

Attempting to commit a misdemeanour shall not be punishable save in cases stipulated by law.

Article 39

A person who, of his own free will, chooses not to complete the commission of a crime he has attempted to commit shall not be punished, unless his action constitutes another, punishable crime.

Article 40

If all the acts aimed at committing the crime have been completed without reaching fruition, the principal actor shall receive the punishment for the intended crime.

In this case, however, the judge may apply the sentence for attempted commission. This sentence must be applied if the offender has, of his own free will or intervention prevented achievement of the intended result.

Article 41

If it is impossible to commit the crime a principal actor had intended to commit due to lack of means or absence of the object of the crime, the sentence for attempted commission shall apply.

Article 42

The secondary punishments provided for the completed offence shall apply to a punishable attempted offence, unless the law stipulates otherwise.

Criminal complicity

Article 43

A principal actor is someone who, with his actions, brings into being the elements of a crime.

An accomplice is a person who assists in the commission of a crime as an executor thereof, without liability.

Persons who carry out together with common purpose the elements of a crime that result directly in its commission are considered conspirators.

Article 44

An accomplice is:

Someone who abets the commission of a crime that takes place on the basis of such abetting;

Someone who is involved with others in the commission of a crime that takes place on the basis of such complicity;

Someone who knowingly helps the principal actor in any way to commit a crime that takes place on the basis of such help.

Article 45

Whoever participates in a crime as principal actor or accomplice shall be sentenced to the prescribed punishment, unless otherwise stipulated in law.

Article 46

Where the intention of one accomplice to a crime or his knowledge of it differs from the intention of another participant or his knowledge of it, each shall be sentenced in accordance with his intention or his knowledge.

Article 47

All accomplices shall benefit from mitigating material circumstances, even if they had no knowledge of them. Only persons aware of aggravating circumstances shall be held liable.

Article 48

Personal conditions and circumstances shall have no effect save to the extent that they disprove, mitigate or aggravate responsibility or prevent punishment of the person to whom they apply.

Note: The sentence for attempted commission of and complicity in crimes stipulated in the Penal Code shall apply as a general principle to felonies provided for in the special penal laws. The same applies to misdemeanours, if the law provides a penalty for attempted commission.

In this regard, article 20 of Act No. 60 (2014), on information technology crimes, states that stipulations may be reviewed in paragraph 20.

The punishment for attempted commission of crimes stipulated in that act shall be half of the punishment for the complete crime.

(f)Legal responsibility of corporate persons

106.Article 3 of Act No. 1 (2008), on combating trafficking in persons, regulates the criminal liability of a corporate person if a crime is committed in his name, to his advantage or for his benefit and provides for a fine of between BD 10,000 and 100,000. The provision allows the court to order dissolution of the corporate person or its permanent or temporary closure; this applies to the branches of the corporate person. All of this is without prejudice to the liability of the natural person.

107.Article 21 of Act No. 60 (2014), on information technology crimes, regulates the criminal liability of a corporate person with a fine, if any of the crimes stipulated in that law were committed in his name, to his advantage or for his benefit and as a result of collusion, complicity or gross negligence on the part of a board member, chairman, manager or any other official authorized by the corporate person. In the event of a repeat offence, the court may order dissolution of the corporate person, permanent closure of the premises where the crime was committed or where activity relating to the crime was carried out or closure for a period to be determined by the court.

(g)Guardianship

108.The Kingdom of Bahrain devotes considerable attention to orphans of unknown identity and children from broken homes Thus, Legislative Decree No. 22 (2000), on fostering, was issued, to which Decision No. 26 (2007), on the executive regulations of the Foster Care Act, is annexed. These set out in detail the process for fostering children from the Child Welfare Home (Batelco Home), founded in 1984 and subsequently reopened in 2010. The law contains several articles guaranteeing the full rights of foster children, including article 6, which stipulates that individuals, institutions and civil organizations are prohibited from engaging in fostering. Furthermore, it is forbidden for any person or family to take into foster care a child of unknown father or parents without following the rules and procedures stipulated in law. Article 12 stipulates the penalties for this.

109.Certain agencies and persons work as intermediaries in the adoption process. Under article 4 of the Foster Care Act, the Family Fostering Committee supervises the fostering process, coordinating the work of agencies working in the field of child welfare and setting general policies for the foster system. In addition to accepting, rejecting or overruling applications to foster, the Committee coordinates the services of the Ministry and other agencies working in the field of caring for children of unknown father or parents, orphans and those in similar circumstances who are in need of care. Under article 6 of the Act, it is forbidden to employ an agency or person in the field of foster care.

110.In the case of a child of unknown parentage, certain legal and administrative procedures are followed by the Ministry of Interior and Public Prosecution. Under article 7, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development officially registers the child and issues an extract from the birth certificate, as well as any other identity documents, pursuant to the regulations and laws in force. Note that the law on the registration of births and deaths was promulgated to minimize fraud.

111.Article 317 of the Penal Code provides a punishment of a term of imprisonment of not less than one year for removing, hiding or falsely ascribing the kinship of a newborn child, if the purpose or result of the crime was to remove or falsify facts relating to the child’s personal status or to register false personal status details in official records.

112.The Kingdom of Bahrain has recently enacted Law No. 7 (2019), on the registration of births and deaths, replacing the previous Law No. 6 (1970), in which crimes related to registration of births receive repeated mention. Article 21 thereof stipulates that, without prejudice to any harsher penalty stipulated in the Penal Code or any other law, a term of imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding BD 500 shall be the penalty for the mendacious reporting of a newborn who, as a result, is entered in the register more than once, the deliberate provision of incorrect data or the resort to fraudulent or unlawful means to register a newborn child. The court shall rule to cancel the entry that proves to be invalid. The same applies to anyone who fails to report a birth or death, being legally required to do so, refuses to provide the data required under the law or refuses to attend in person in order to provide the required information, as well as anyone who alters the data in the register without a decisive judicial ruling or deliberately destroys or causes the destruction or loss of records and related documents held in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Note: The penalty stipulated under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act shall be imposed in the event of conviction, unless related to the crime of forgery of official or private documents, in which case the harshest penalty shall be imposed, in accordance with article 66 of the Penal Code. This stipulates that, if several crimes occur for a single purpose and are indivisibly linked, they must be considered together as one crime; the sentence handed down shall be the most severe.

Pursuant to article 271 of the Penal Code, forgery of official documents shall be punishable with a term of up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Forgery of private document shall be punishable with a term of up to three years’ imprisonment.

113.Regarding the child of a Bahraini mother and unknown father, action will be taken to enable the biological mother to bring a case proving the child’s relationship to her, ensuring that she obtains all necessary identity documents and stressing the need for the child to stay with the mother as often as possible, with the help of psychological, social and material services. In rare cases and for compelling reasons that prevent the mother from keeping the child, the mother may relinquish custody to the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and transfer the child to the fostering system, after making presentation to the Family Fostering Committee (pursuant to Legislative Decree No. 22 (2000), on fostering),

114.The fostering process is administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and Family Fostering Committee. Services are provided free of charge to the foster family, with foster parents guaranteeing to pay fees for the issue or renewal of the child’s identity documents. Some services are exempt from fees. Additionally, monthly assistance (social security and cost of living allowance) is disbursed to low-income families.

115.Regarding accession to the Hague Convention, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain is committed to applying the principles and provisions of Islamic Sharia, a major source of legislation, which forbids adoption. The foster family system has been introduced under the laws in force in Bahrain, legitimizing the delivery to foster families of one or more child of unknown father or parents, orphans, those in similar circumstances and those in need of care. Foster families provide these children with shelter and all-round care and assume responsibility for their upbringing under the supervision and oversight of the Family Fostering Committee.

(h)Laws prohibiting the publication of materials advertising crimes covered by the Protocol

116.In contrast to the offences stipulated in the Penal Code and Information Technology Crimes Act, as previously discussed, Legislative Decree No. 14 (1973), on the regulation of advertisements, prohibits the publication of advertisements that violate public morals, as follows:

Article 7

The advertisement must be consistent with the aim of beautifying the area in which it will be placed and not obstruct traffic flow or violate public security, public morals or religious beliefs.

Article 16

A fine of up to BD 100 shall be imposed on anyone who publishes or has published for his own benefit any advertisement in violation of the terms and conditions stipulated in this Act and decisions in implementation thereof. If he continues to act in violation thereof after a ruling has been handed down, he shall be punished with a fine of BD 1 for each day the violation remains.

117.Regarding the effectiveness of the regulations criminalizing publication of advertisements for the crimes described in the Protocol, local laws and legislation are largely effective in providing the highest levels of safety, guaranteeing rights and gains and combating all forms and images of exploitation a child may be exposed to. These are consistent with relevant international treaties and conventions on protecting the rights of the child. The Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure contain articles, substantive and procedural provisions, and criminal stipulations that guarantee protection of the rights of the child. There is also special legislation, such as the Children’s Act; the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act; Act No. 19 (2004), approving the Kingdom’s accession to the two Optional Protocols on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; and Legislative Decree No. 12 (2001), approving Bahrain’s accession to International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention, 1999, No. 182, prohibiting the worst forms of child labour and immediate measures to eliminate it. These and other pieces of legislation provide a solid basis of legal assurances to promote child protection and prevent multiple forms of exploitation. Moreover, the legislative system in the Kingdom is constantly evolving to keep pace with developments and exigencies, address legislative shortcomings and introduce new legal tools to combat crimes against children.

(i)Jurisdiction

118.In application of article 4 of the Protocol

Penal Code

Article 5

The provisions of this Code shall apply to all offences committed in the State of Bahrain. The offence shall be held to have been committed in its territory if any of the component acts of the offence were committed in Bahrain and the results of the offence were achieved or intended to be achieved there.

In all cases, the law shall apply to anyone taking part in the offence, even if participation took place abroad, whether as principal actor or accomplice.

Article 8

Any citizen who, while abroad, commits an act that makes him a perpetrator or accomplice to a crime under this Code shall be sentenced according to its provisions, if he is located in the State of Bahrain, even if the offence he committed is punishable under the laws of the country where it was committed. This provision applies even if the citizen acquires or loses his nationality after committing the offence.

Article 9

The provisions of this Code shall apply to any foreigner in the Kingdom of Bahrain who may have committed an offence abroad that is not stipulated under articles 6, 7 and 8 of this Code and application for extradition has not been made.

Article 2 of Legislative Decree No. 23 (1982), promulgating the Maritime Act, stipulates that, without prejudice to international agreements to which the State of Bahrain is bound, a ship acquires the nationality of the State of Bahrain, if it is registered in one of its ports or if its owner enjoys Bahraini nationality. If the ship is owned by several persons in common, all owners must enjoy Bahraini nationality. If the owner is a company, it must enjoy said nationality. Any ship enjoying Bahraini nationality must fly the Bahraini flag and may not adopt another flag save to avoid being captured by the enemy or a foreign warship in exercise of a legitimate right of war.

As an exception to the above, the Minister of Finance and National Economy may, with the agreement of the Cabinet, grant Bahraini nationality to ships owned by non-Bahrainis on condition that they are registered in Bahraini ports.

Article 5 of the said Legislative Decree stipulates that criminal acts committed on board a ship carrying the Bahraini flag shall be deemed to have taken place on Bahraini territory.

Furthermore, article 2 of Act No. 14 (2013), promulgating the Civil Aviation Law, stipulates that, in application of the provisions of this Law, the State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory. Article 3.1 of this Act stipulates that the provisions of this Law shall apply to:

(a)civil aviation in the territory of the State, including airports, civil aircraft and State aircraft;

(b)national civil aircraft operating outside the territory of the State in compliance with the laws of the States where such aircraft are operating.

Article 4 of the same Act stipulates that the provisions of international civil aviation conventions to which the State has acceded or will accede in the future shall apply.

We may conclude from the above that the aforementioned laws impose the sovereignty of the State and State laws on civilian shipping and aircraft that bear Bahraini nationality or are registered in Bahrain and consider them to be part of State territory, whether they are within or outside the confines thereof. This leads to the conclusion that they are subject to the jurisdiction of the Kingdom, in accordance with the stipulation of article 5 of the general section of the Penal Code, allowing the provisions of the law to apply to crimes committed in the territory of the Kingdom.

(j)Extradition of suspects

119.Book 6, chapter 2, section 1 of the Penal Code regulates the extradition of suspects and convicted persons. In this regard, article 412 stipulates that, without prejudice to international conventions and treaties having the force of law in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the extradition of convicted or accused persons to the foreign country that requests extradition in implementation of foreign rulings handed down against them of for criminal trial shall take place in accordance with the following provisions and rules of international law, in respect of matters not specifically stipulated herein.

120.The Kingdom has concluded numerous bilateral agreements with States with which it has diplomatic relations on the issue of extradition of suspects and removal of persons sentenced to deprivation of liberty. The Kingdom has further acceded to Gulf and Arab conventions in the same area; these conventions have been ratified and entered into force.

121.These conventions cover crimes committed against children as long as such crimes, which form the subject of the extradition request, are criminal offences under the national legislation of both countries or those countries which have acceded to the convention and to which the agreed terms of extradition stipulated in the convention apply.

122.Article 415 (a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure prohibits the extradition of citizens.

123.The legal provisions regulating requests for the extradition of suspects are set out in the Code of Criminal Procedure, promulgated pursuant to Legislative Decree No. 46 (2002), that is, before the Kingdom’s accession to the two Protocols. Furthermore, the Kingdom ratified many bilateral and regional agreements in the same area after agreeing to accede to the Protocols. These agreements cover the crimes referred to in article 3 of the Protocol as crimes requiring extradition of the perpetrators.

(k)International conventions and legal bases for cooperation with other States parties

124.The Public Prosecution cooperates in international criminal investigations and procedures. It investigated a report received from the UK’s Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA) that children from the UK are being groomed via social media and sexually exploited by an anonymous person in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The investigation, conducted by the Public Prosecution in cooperation with SOCA and the General Department of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security of the Bahraini Ministry of Interior, uncovered the protocols used in the commission of the crimes and suspects were identified and arrested, together with the computers and devices used. The investigation was carried out confidentially and with a duty of care for the children involved. The Public Prosecution ordered the accused to be referred for criminal trial, charged with indecent assault, sexual harassment, grooming, online exploitation in violation of public morals and incitement to commit indecent acts, as well as disseminating, displaying and circulating pornographic images of children and aiding and abetting criminal behaviour and moral delinquency. After exhausting the appeal process, they were sentenced to terms of imprisonment of from three to five years and confiscation of seized items. The convicted persons have appealed the judgement to the court of cassation; the outcome of the appeal has not been decided.

(l)Seizure and confiscation of criminal materials described in the Protocol

125.This has already been referred to in paragraph 20. Applications for enforcement of judicial rulings and decisions concerning seizure, retention and confiscation are treated as applications for judicial assistance; decisions are made in accordance with conventions, if any, and the legal rules applicable when implementing judicial assistance.

VII.Protection of the rights and interests of victims

(Article 8 and article 9 (3, 4))

(a)Measures taken to protect victims

126.In addition to the provisions referred to in this report and in the Kingdom’s combined fourth to sixth periodic reports submitted in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on protection of child victims of crime, including crimes described in the Protocol, the Public Prosecution has a role to play in implementing Law No. 1, on combating trafficking in persons in accordance with the provisions of that Law, as follows:

Conducting criminal investigations on the basis of reports, gathering oral and material evidence, taking action against the accused, such as arrest and search in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, seizure of assets, funds and anything related to the crime and holding these in safe-keeping until a final decision is reached in the case.

Advising the victim of his rights, enabling the victim to clarify his status as a victim of crime and corroborating witness testimony at the investigation stage.

Taking measures to ensure the medical and psychological welfare of the victim, including by having the victim examined by a specialist and admitted to a medical or psychological rehabilitation facility, if the situation requires.

Admitting the victim to a shelter or rehabilitation facility or taking the necessary steps to find accommodation.

Contacting the Committee for the Assessment of the Situation of Foreign Victims of Trafficking in Persons to remove any obstacles facing the victim.

The protection measures set out under the aforementioned Domestic Violence Law shall be taken into account.

(b)Investigation of crimes under the Protocol

127.

Article 352 of the Penal Code stipulates that an offender is assumed to know the age of his victim in crimes of rape, indecent behaviour and sexual assault, unless the offender can prove that he could not have known it.

Article 1 (c) of Act No. 1 (2008), on combatting trafficking in persons, stipulates that the offender is assumed to know the true age of a victim under the age of 18.

Pursuant to article 4 of Act No. 37 (2012), promulgating the Children’s Law, “child” shall mean any person under the age of 18 Gregorian years, with due regard to particular laws regulating the affairs of those under this age. A child’s age may be determined by a birth certificate, identity card or other official document.

In the absence of an official document, age shall be determined by decision of the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, by agreement with the Minister of Health.

Article 29 of Legislative Decree No. 17 (1976), on juveniles, stipulates that it is not essential to have an official document in order to determine the age of a juvenile victim or perpetrator of grooming. If it is established that no such document exists, age can be estimated by a forensic physician or the like; if that is not possible, the court can make an estimation.

(c)Guidelines to ensure the best interests of child victims of crimes under the Protocol

128.Paragraphs 34 and 131 of the statement of Public Prosecution’s role and article 22 of the Code of Criminal Procedure grant the victim of a crime the right to bring a civil case for a ruling on entitlement to compensation at the evidence gathering, investigation or trial stages, together with a ruling on the crime. Article 23 of the same Act stipulates that, if a victim is incapable of litigation and has no one to represent him legally, the court before which the criminal case was filed may appoint, at the request of Public Prosecution, a representative to claim the victim’s civil rights on his behalf, at no cost to the victim.

129.Furthermore, the victim of a crime may resort directly to the competent civil court to make a claim for compensation for material or moral damages incurred, on the basis of liability, pursuant to the rules and provisions stipulated in book 1, chapter 3 of the Civil Code, promulgated by Legislative Decree No 19 (2001).

(d)Laws designed to ensure that the best interests of child victims of such crimes are identified and taken into account during criminal investigations and proceedings

130.In addition to the reference made in paragraph 133, note that a special public prosecution office –Family and Child Public Prosecution – is competent to hear criminal cases concerning children. It is furnished and equipped so as to make the child feel that nothing unusual is happening. The child is questioned in the presence of a social worker, representing the Psychological Support Department of the Public Prosecution, who will support the child psychologically and enable him/her to adjust to the investigative process.

131.Instructions to the members of the Public Prosecution include the need to cooperate and coordinate with bodies concerned with children and provide them with full support and assistance to ensure the best interests of the child, guarantee protection and determine the optimum methods for dealing with children.

(e)Training of staff alongside victims of crimes under the Protocol

132.Public Prosecution works tirelessly through participation in conferences, symposiums, workshops and lectures to train its members and enhance their legal skills and social capacities to enable them to deal effectively with children.

List of family and child programmes implemented in the last two judicial years

(2017–2018, 2018–2019)

No.	Target group	Date	Length of programme	Name of programme	Goals and content of	Type of trainer	Body	No. of participants
1	Judges	10 Dec. 2018	One day (four hours)	Symposium on the efforts of Bahrain to protect child offenders and victims	Statement of the Centre’s child protection goals and most prominent cases presenting (physical and psychological abuse, sexual abuse, extreme neglect); the role of national human rights institutions and their modus operandi in relation to the rights of the child and SDGs; procedures relating to the provision of health care and moral, legal, social and psychological support; the role of the Family and Child Prosecution to deter child abuse; and making children aware of the dangers of becoming involved in crime.	Local expert	Various govt. bodies	50
2	Others	30 Oct. 2017	One day (four hours)	Discussion session with child restorative justice team	In coordination with American Bar Association	International judge	Child restorative justice team	35

133.The Ministry of Labour and Social Development is keen to train staff working with children. The Child Protection Centre employs social workers and psychologists trained in the field of child protection and dealing with children who have been psychologically damaged by violence. Furthermore, reports submitted by the Centre to the Public Prosecution and courts are reviewed in the utmost confidentiality by a legal specialist on the staff of the Ministry to ensure the best interests of the child.

Training courses and conferences attended by staff of the Child Protection Centre (2010–2016)

No.	Name of course	Period	Location
2010
1.	Training course for psychologists, with Dr. Fathi al-Zayat	24–28 January	Arabian Gulf University
2.	Online safety	26–28 April	Ritz Carlton Hotel
3.	Effective parenting	20 May	Arabian Gulf University
4.	Child safety online	25 October	Ritz Carlton Hotel
5.	Child helpline conference	24–28 October	Madrid
6.	Workshop on the Juveniles Act and Convention on the Rights of the Child	23 December	Bahrain Financial Harbour
7.	Child adaptation to crises	7 April	Civil organizations
8.	Child abuse	26 September	Child Protection Centre
9.	Child helpline training	6 December	Child Protection Centre
10.	“Know your rights” conference	26 December	Movenpick Hotel
2013
11.	Play therapy	14–17 January	Novotel Hotel
12.	Forensic medicine in child cases	3 July	Bahrain Defence Force Hospital
13.	Violence against women and children	1–3 July	Elite Suite
14.	Dealing with children’s psychological, behavioural and educational problems	25–28 July	Supreme Council for Women
15.	Dealing with adolescent crises	8–12 September	Supreme Council for Women
16.	The art of listening to victims of domestic violence	27–31 October	Supreme Council for Women
17.	Basics of family counselling	27–28 October	Movenpick Hotel
18.	Human trafficking	27 November	Golden Tulip
19.	Psychological counselling for sexually abused children	3–4 November	Princess Jawhara Centre
20.	Regional conference on child helplines	16–18 December	Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2014
21.	Comprehensive assessment of juvenile delinquent	24–25 February	Qatar
22.	Play therapy	June	Elite Hotel
23.	Course on human trafficking	6 May	Golden Tulip Hotel
24.	Third family cohesion symposium: international experience of family protection	19–21 August	Sultanate of Oman
25.	Gulf social workers forum	2–4 September	Diplomat Hotel
26.	National strategy to protect children from online harm	14–16 September	Ritz Hotel
27.	Human trafficking	19–20 October	Civil organizations
2015
28.	Criminal justice for juveniles and how to provide the maximum degree of protection and care	16–17 February	Judicial and Legal Studies Institute
29.	Follow-up care for juvenile delinquents in Gulf Cooperation Council States	18–19 February	Crown Plaza Hotel
30.	Family counsellors	24–26 February	Crown Plaza Hotel
31.	Training seminar on the concepts and criteria of social responsibility	10–12 February	Emirate of Dubai, UAE
32.	Course on behavioural change	21–23 April	Bahrain and Kuwait Rehabilitation Centre
33.	The situation of children in the light of current circumstances and changes in the Arab region	8–9 April	Golden Tulip Hotel
34.	Challenges facing those working in the field of domestic violence	24–26 November	Ayesha Yateem Family Counselling Centre
35.	Human trafficking	1–2 December	Diplomat Hotel
36.	Development of human values during childhood	21 February	Chamber of Commerce and Industry
37.	Role of the police in upholding human rights	13–24 March	Academy attached to Ministry of Interior
38.	Rehabilitation of delinquent children	7–8 August	Juveniles Centre
39.	Psychological burnout	28–29 September	Manama Social Centre
40.	Use of the social protection development policy manual	2–5 October	Ministry of Social Development, Muscat, Oman
41.	Psychological health conference	16 November	Gulf Hotel, Awal room

(f)Ensuring the safety and security of those working with victims of crimes described in the Protocol

134.Policewomen from the Ministry of the Interior wearing civilian clothes work at the Child Protection Centre recording children’s statements in a child-friendly environment to ensure the latter’s psychological well-being. It is worth noting that the Child Protection Centre works exclusively with abused children and does not provide services for offenders. This is to avoid hostile encounters in the Centre between offender and victim or Centre staff. The Centre has a security guard in place 24 hours a day and recordings can be viewed in the event of a hostile encounter involving the offender (if he is a member of the abused child’s family or otherwise). Legal measures can be taken against the offender in the event that he assaults a member of Child Protection Centre staff.

135.Committed to meeting its voluntary obligations to the Human Rights Council under the universal periodic review process in April 2008, the Kingdom undertook, inter alia, to establish a national human rights commission as soon as possible, taking into account the relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly the Paris Principles.

136.The Act establishing the National Institute for Human Rights grants legal protection to the board of commissioners with a view to enabling them to carry out their mission to promote and protect human rights. Article 9 further prohibits criticism of a member of the board of commissioners for expressing ideas or views on issues that fall within the Institute’s sphere of competence. Furthermore, a member may only be investigated with the agreement of the chairperson and in the presence of a representative of the board. In fact, the provisions of the said Act go further, forbidding the headquarters of the National Institution to be searched save by judicial order, in the presence of a representative of the Public Prosecution and with the knowledge of the chairperson. Furthermore, a representative of the National Institution must be present during the search. Together, these measures consolidate the independence of the National Institution and strengthen its mandate to carry out its mission.

(g)Ensuring access to a fair and impartial trial

137.The Constitution guarantees the right of the accused to a fair and impartial trial and the law enshrines this behind an impregnable shield that seeks to protect people from the diminution of their rights and legal status before law enforcement agencies and judicial bodies. The Code of Criminal Procedure has put in place a series of measures and checks that constitute an integrated legal framework designed to protect the right of the accused to enjoy assurances of due process from the stage of arrest and evidence gathering to preliminary investigation and trial, regardless of the crimes of which he stands accused.

(h)Social reintegration programmes

138.Further to what has been stated in the report, it is worth drawing attention to the protection measures set out in the Domestic Violence Act, as well as the measures to be taken with victims of human trafficking during the investigation and trial stages, as stipulated in article 5 of Act No. 1 (2008), on combating trafficking in persons. These consist of examination by a specialized physician, if the victim is found to need health or psychological care; admission to a medical or psychological rehabilitation centre or care home, if it transpires that his medical or psychological condition or age so requires; admission to a specialized shelter, rehabilitation centre or approved facility that undertakes to provide accommodation, if the victim needs it; and arranging security protection, if necessary.

139.Psychological services for children and families are provided by the Child Protection Centre, including psychological sessions for child victims of violence. Essential family counselling is offered to ensure reintegration of the child into the family and society and provide psychological stability. The Centre will transfer the child to hospital for medical follow-up to ensure physical recovery.

(i)Identity recovery

140.The Kingdom of Bahrain provides a full range of psychological, health and social services for all children subjected to exploitation in all its forms. If necessary, shelter is also provided, regardless of gender, identity or origin.

141.If a ruling is issued to the effect that a child is of unknown identity, he shall be granted Bahraini nationality and all necessary identity documents shall be issued. Under Legislative Decree No. 22 (2000), on fostering, a foster family shall be found. Children in foster care shall be monitored.

(j)Equality and non-discrimination in assistance provided

142.It is worth noting that Act No. 37 (2012), the Children’s Act, serves all children in the Kingdom of Bahrain, whether citizens or non-citizens, as stated in article (2) of the Act. All services delivered by institutions working with child victims seek to help them to reintegrate into society.

(k)Means of redress

143.Paragraph 136 referred to the right to bring a civil case during the stages of evidence gathering, investigation and trial (i.e., the criminal case) and the right to resort to the civil courts to claim compensation in accordance with the rules and provisions of the Civil Code.

VIII.International assistance and cooperation

144.The Kingdom of Bahrain has ratified a number of multilateral and bilateral agreements on international cooperation with many countries; the most significant of these are:

Legislative Decree No.16 (1991), on accession of the State of Bahrain to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the General Assembly in November 1989;

Legislative Decree No. 8, ratifying the amendment to article 43 (2) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the General Assembly in November 1989;

Act No. 19 (2004), approving accession of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the two Optional Protocols;

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (September 2011);

Arab Charter on Human Rights;

Memorandum of understanding between the Office of the United Nations Development Programme in the Kingdom of Bahrain and UNESCO.

IX.Other legal provisions

(a)Core international instruments of the Protocol

145.The Kingdom of Bahrain has ratified many regional and international conventions and treaties, including:

Legislative Decree No. 17 (1989), ratifying the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988);

Legislative Decree No. 12 (2001), approving accession of the Kingdom of Bahrain to ILO Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour,1999, (No. 182);

Act No. 4 (2004), approving accession of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and Optional Protocols thereto.

X.Conclusion1

146.This preliminary report reviews some of the efforts and successes of the Kingdom of Bahrain in implementing the provisions of the Protocol. It should be noted that some of the information previously presented in detail by Bahrain in its combined fourth to sixth periodic reports on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and referred to in this report has been omitted. Despite the foregoing, our ambition of achieving the best and most comprehensive child protection system remains high. We hope to develop procedures for the protection and care of children in accordance with the values, principles and goals set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.