Manama, September 28 (BNA): Participants in the “International Conference on Penal Law and Alternative Measures: Specific expertise in criminal legislation” called on national human rights institutions, NGOs, civil society institutions, human rights advocates and specialists to press for an alternative penal law in countries that have not enacted it. distance.
The statement issued by the conference also recommended that national legislation regulating penalties and alternative measures be in line with United Nations human rights standards, criminal justice and other relevant international resolutions.
This includes the possibility of ending the alternative penalty before the end of the prescribed period, and considering this as an exemption for the beneficiary from the rest of the penalty when it is proven to the competent judicial authorities that he deserves it, according to a legal definition. The closing statement added that guarantees, controls and procedures.
Head of the Prisons and Facilities Visit Committee at the National Institution for Human Rights, Dr. Mal Allah Jaafar Al Hammadi, while presenting the concluding statement of the conference, stressed the need to complete the legislative structure of the Alternative Provisions and Penalties Law. As well as opening prisons according to modern regulations in this regard as one of the legal means that have a significant impact on reforming the convict, correcting his behavior and rehabilitating him to integrate into society.
He also called for the adoption of the alternative penal code and open prisons within the plans, strategies and national action programs for human rights, provided that the beneficiary is given a certificate proving his good behavior and behavior to enable him to continue his academic studies (university, professional). or school) without prejudice to the application of the alternative punishment of their right to continue that study.
The conference stressed the need to benefit from the recommendations made during its sessions to serve as a guide for developing the restorative justice system, with an emphasis on building the capacity of workers in the field of penalties and alternative measures and opening prisons, including: law enforcement agencies, through the establishment of specialized units within its administrative structure that are responsible for overseeing training Raising awareness and proposing development recommendations in this field.
The participants in the conference stressed the importance of educating the inmates of reform and rehabilitation institutions of the existing legal conditions and controls to benefit from alternative procedures and the opening of prisons, and called for facilitating the prescribed procedures for those wishing to replace the punishment.
They also stressed the importance of educating official bodies, companies, private institutions, non-governmental organizations and human rights defenders of the benefits of the alternative sentences system and open prison systems so that they can be real partners in the rehabilitation and reform of the beneficiaries. Alternative penalties.
The conference called for a legislative amendment that would allow convicts to pay their fines in installments while serving the alternative sentence.
The “International Conference on Penal Law and Alternative Measures: The Qualitative Experience in Criminal Legislation” was organized by the National Institution for Human Rights on 27 and 28 September, with the attendance of more than 300 participants from Bahrain and abroad.
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