Bahrain's restorative justice law for children complies with highest international human rights standards

Manama, Aug. 31 (BNA): The Arab Observatory for Human Rights has commended the efforts of Bahrain under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in applying the Law on Restorative Justice for Children and Their Protection from Maltreatment. The law is a great achievement in line with the highest international human rights standards, and it confirms Bahrain's honorable human rights record in protecting children's rights and in caring about their healthily, educationally, socially and psychologically wellbeing within a society where security, stability, justice and the values of good citizenship prevail, it said. The Observatory praised Bahrain’s legislative and institutional efforts to ensure genuine care about children, the observance of their rights and their protection in accordance with the international standards established in this regard. It stressed that this law represents an advanced step forward to enhance Bahraini leadership regionally and internationally in respect of human rights and childcare, it added. The law marks a significant addition to the Arab and international legislative and judicial system and to executive procedures that guarantee the rights of children and protect them from abuse, exploitation or neglect. It also looks after their health and education, and grooms socially as the future of the nation in light of HM the King's comprehensive development process. With this important legislative achievement, Bahrain enhances its global leadership in this field, affirms its entitlement to membership in the Human Rights Council and the International Committee on the Rights of the Child, and its classification among countries with high human development according to the United Nations Development Program Report for 2020, the Observatory said.