Second Annual Report of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) 2014 - Kingdom of Bahrain RIGHT TO LIBERTY AND SECURITY OF PERSON • The need for the public prosecution to activate the authority granted to it by the legislature to take alternative measures to pre-trial detention, and effectuate its discretion granted under Article No. 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code for the provisional release of the accused persons who are detained in its custody. • Establishing an effective and transparent system of accountability for any person who is proved to have caused the violation of the right to liberty and security of person. RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL • Enabling the detainees to attend the funerals or mourning ceremonies of any of his ascendants, descendants, spouse, or his relatives to the second degree, and making the necessary legislative amendments to enforce this right. • Activating the supervisory authority of the public prosecution in relation to the work of law enforcement officers and the violations committed by them, and taking disciplinary or penal actions against them in case of violating the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. • The Supreme Judicial Council should verify the claims made by the defendants during pretrial investigation or trial procedures concerning the violation of their right to fair trial. Serious and transparent investigations should be conducted with the respondents, and the necessary legal action should be taken against them, if liability is proven. • The security measures necessary to maintain public security in the vicinity of the court should be clear and declared in advance, and specialists such as lawyers, human rights defenders and the relatives of the accused persons should be allowed to attend the hearings, unless the court decides otherwise. • Activating the role of supervisory and control role of judicial inspection over judges, in order not to prolong the duration of litigation proceedings, and not to delay the hearings or to postpone cases for long periods. • Providing courts with qualified personnel in line with the progressively increasing number of cases, and developing specialized qualification programs to increase the efficiency of the judicial authority personnel and the level of their performance. • Developing the Institute of Judicial and Legal Studies programs in order to conform to international human rights instruments, particularly those related to criminal justice and human rights. • Dedicating further attention to intensive and effective training for judges and public prosecutors on issues related to human rights, particularly fair trial guarantees. FREEDOM OF OPINION AND RIGHT TO EXPRESSION • Urging the public prosecution not to resort to arrest warrants in the lawsuits of audio-visual media, printing, the press, publishing and electronic media. RIGHTS OF THE CHILD • Urging the public prosecution not to resort to measures that restrict the freedom of the children, except within the most minimum range and as a measure of last resort. 25