Requirement Two
Specific Standing Committees of the NIHR
1. Pursuant to Paragraph (a) of Article No (7) of the NIHR’s establishment
Law, which stipulates that, “the Council of Commissioners shall form
standing Committees from its members to undertake the institution
functions. It may form ad-hoc Committees, if necessary.” Accordingly,
Article No (32) of the Rules of Procedure on Regulating the Function of the
Council of Commissioners of the National Institution for Human Rights9
stipulated that, “Three standing committees shall be formed in the
Institution to assume the Institution’s functions, namely: Complaints,
Monitoring and Follow-up Committee, General Rights and Freedoms
Committee, and Detention and Facilities Visitation Committee.”
2. The Rules of Procedure clarified that the number of members of each
standing committee must not be less than three, provided no member shall
be allowed to head more than one committee. Article No (36) of the Rules
of Procedure stipulates that, “At its first meeting, each committee …..
shall elect its Head from among its members… for a period of one
year, renewable for similar terms.” Also, Article No (39) of the Rules of
Procedure stipulated that, “The Committees shall meet at least once a
month…”
3. The Rules of Procedure on Regulating the Function of the Council of
Commissioners entrusted the standing committees with a number of tasks
and responsibilities, as follows:
a) Complaints, Monitoring and Follow-up Committee
To receive, assess, and consider complaints and grievances related to
human rights made by citizens, residents and organizations through
various means, and to determine the best way to deal with.
To inform concerned citizens and residents of procedures to be
followed if there is a complaint and to provide them with the required
legal assistance, or to assist in resolving the complaint with the
concerned authorities.
9
Rules of Procedure on Regulating the Function of the Council of Commissioners. In Arabic
https://www.nihr.org.bh/Organisation/MediaHandler/GenericHandler/documents/PDF/Procedures_ARB2
020.pdf In English
https://www.nihr.org.bh/EN/MediaHandler/GenericHandler/documents/PDF/Procedures_ENG2020.pdf
Ninth Annual Report of the NIHR
21