Bid to enhance transparency
Suad Hamada
Staff Reporter
The Bahrain Human Rights Society has sought government permission to visit the women’s prison.
Human rights activist Abdullah Al Derazi told the Women Gateway that the society had requested the Ministry of Interior twice for the visit, and been waiting for a reply.
Referring to the visit to the prison by the Supreme Council for Women as part of a study on Bahraini women for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Al Derazi said: “We appreciate the SCW’s initiative to empower women. But it is part of the executive authority and cannot be neutral in evaluating the living conditions of the prison which is run by the government.”
Bid to enhance transparency
Suad Hamada
Staff Reporter
The Bahrain Human Rights Society has sought government permission to visit the women’s prison.
Human rights activist Abdullah Al Derazi told the Women Gateway that the society had requested the Ministry of Interior twice for the visit, and been waiting for a reply.
Referring to the visit to the prison by the Supreme Council for Women as part of a study on Bahraini women for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Al Derazi said: “We appreciate the SCW’s initiative to empower women. But it is part of the executive authority and cannot be neutral in evaluating the living conditions of the prison which is run by the government.”
“We will welcome a report by the SCW, but there should be a shadow report to ensure accuracy,” he said.
Al Derazi said the BHRS had asked for the visit to check on alleged ill-treatment of female inmates. “We are keen to enhance transparency and human rights principles and that can be achieved if the NGOs and the government cooperate.”
The SCW has highlighted discrimination against female prisoners in the detention facilities. It plans to impress upon the Supreme Judiciary Council on the need to find mechanisms to prevent punishments which are not commensurate with the crimes. During a visit, the council found that some women had been handed severe punishments which were unnecessary.
On April 11, HM the King’s wife and Council chairwoman, Her Highness Shaikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, ordered a study of the prisons as part of a plan to address the needs of women in Bahrain.
Bahrain Tribune
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