10. The Institution also spotted a story in a local newspaper about the treatment of a female citizen
by one of the official authorities because of the absence of the official, which led to the violation of
some of her basic rights. The NIHR communicated with them through the complaints, monitoring
and follow-up committee and settled the matter.
11. With regard to the right to education and the provision of safe school environment for children, the
Institution monitored through the local newspapers cases of assault by a teacher on a secondary
school student, which resulted in a broken tooth, and subsequently the NIHR contacted all concerned
authorities, which began due process in this matter and took action.
12. T
he NIHR monitored complaints across social media and the local press, as well as receiving
complaints, amounting to forty-five (45) which included claims from families of some persons
kept in the remand center where security measures prevented families from directly meeting with
detainees during the process of visitation because of a glass barrier between them. Subsequently, the
Institution, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior conducted a visit to the center to find
out how true is the allegation, where its delegation from the committee for complaints, monitoring
and follow-up met with the administration of the center which explained that the procedure was
for the benefit of detainees for reasons of preventing the entry of banned substances, as a number
of cases were found where narcotic substances or sharp items were given to detainees. But there
was a system that allows a detainee to meet with his family in a private room in accordance with
specific regulations. The committee submitted some recommendations for appropriate and more
flexible procedures which ensure no prejudice to the right of detainees for direct communication
with the visitors, and the advancement of the process of educating inmates and their relatives about
the systems and procedures in this regard.
13. U
nder the mandate of the NIHR in the field of protection of human rights, the Institution played an
active role in receiving different complaints relating to human rights. It studied and referred valid
cases to the competent authorities to follow up effectively or enlighten concerned entities about the
proper procedures to be followed and to help them settle them. The NIHR dealt during 2016 with
one hundred and thirty-two (132) complaints concerning the rights of the defendants and where
violations occurred.
14. The number of complaints regarding civil and political rights reached one hundred and sixteen (116)
complaints, and the share of complaints relating to the right to physical and moral integrity reached
twenty-six complaints, and there were twenty-eight complaints related to the right to liberty and
personal security; as for the complaints relating to the right to enjoy the guarantees of a fair trial, the
number was forty-four complaints. The NIHR received nine complaints about the right to residence
and movement, and eight complaints concerning the right to non-discrimination in the enjoyment
of rights and freedoms, and one complaint related to the right to receive remuneration.
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