The General Secretary of the Ombudsman Nawaf Al-Ma’awada said that the General-Secretariat of the Ombudsman has been created in compliance with Royal Decree adding that the Secretariat’s launching comes upon recommendation of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).
In his speech during the ceremony, Al-Ma’awda added that the launching of the General Secretariat of the Ombudsman in Bahrain constitutes a valuable addition to the impeccable track record of democratic feats in the Kingdom, highlighting the Secretariat as an independent organization in the Ministry of Interior which comes as a step on the path of ancient democracies and whose creation comes as part of the work of the Kingdom’s set of institutions which consecrates human rights, values of justice and the rule of law.
The General Secretariat of the Ombudsman receives oral or written complaints from anybody who claims to have sustained a sinful (incriminating) act of whatsoever sort on the part of public security personnel because or during the course of exercising their jurisdiction, Al-Ma’awda affirmed, adding that the Secretariat exercises its powers and duties fully independently, honestly, transparently and responsibly regarding all complaints lodged to it, and that anybody, whether he/she is a citizen or resident or visitor, can lodge a complaint under the Secretariat’s jurisdiction.
The General Secretariat of the Ombudsman has been created by Royal Decree as a financially- and administratively independent supervisory body, in compliance with the Kingdom’s Constitution, laws and Police Code of Ethical Conduct and which has power to visit prisons and places of detention.
During the launching ceremony, the Secretariat’s website was also launched.
The Secretary General of the Ombudsman said that the door is open to receive all complaints from any citizen or resident in person at the Secretariat’s temporary headquarters in Seef District now or at the five Governorates or via e-mail: complaints@ombudsman.bh.