Bahrain sets up special courts for children

MANAMA: Bahrain is to set up special courts for criminal cases involving children, it has been declared.

Supreme Judicial Council vice chairman and Court of Cassation president Abdulla Al Bouainain issued an edict yesterday to set up the Restorative Courts for Children.

The council is co-ordinating with the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry and the Public Prosecution regarding legal and logistical requirements for courts, judicial committees and their administrative and technical requirements, he said.

The move is in line with the provisions of the Children’s Restorative Justice and Protection from Abuse Law, which will come into effect on August 18.

A High Restorative Justice Court made up of three judges will be established, in addition to two experts commissioned by the courts, at least one of whom shall be a woman.

A Lower Restorative Justice Court will also be established, including a judge and a commissioned expert.

The law stipulates the establishment of the courts with jurisdiction to adjudicate criminal cases arising from crimes committed by children who are over 15 full calendar years of age at the time the crime was committed.

The law also stipulates the establishment of a judicial committee to look into cases where a child is endangered or ill-treated, and in cases where a child is considered to be at risk if he has not exceeded the age of 15 full calendar years.

The committee will also look into acts committed by children and which may constitute a felony or misdemeanour.

Chaired by a Child Correctional Court judge, the committee will feature a member of the specialised prosecution for children, to be nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, in addition to an expert commissioned by the committee.

Another judicial committee, including the head of the Child Correctional Court, the Child Correctional Court Judge, the Punishment Execution Judge and a member of the Public Prosecution, will be set up.

Its role will consist of receiving requests to replace sentences imposed before the entry into force of this law, based on a report from the Reform and Rehabilitation Centre submitted by the Public Prosecution.

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