Office of the Ombudsman

The Kingdom of Bahrain has attached great importance to human rights and has sought, through local legislations and international agreements having force of local law, for maintenance and protection of these rights so as to ensure human dignity on the soil of the Kingdom of Bahrain and preserve human rights in all walks of life. The Kingdom of Bahrain not only issued legislations and acceded to international treaties but also assumed the responsibility, from its international and local position, to set up specialized human rights agencies among the government establishments, which were entrusted with the task of ensuring protection and maintenance of human rights relevant to the work of these agencies. These agencies were given under the charge of competent jurists, expert in the legal affairs. In this context, the royal approval was sanctioned to implement recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, especially what entered into Recommendation No. 1718 and 1722, regarding the formation of the Office of the Inspector General (Ombudsman) at NIA. Decree No. 28 of 2012 was issued regarding the formation of the Office of the Inspector General (Ombudsman) at NIA so as to ensure formation of an independent human rights agency, competent to receive and examine complaints regarding maltreatment of persons by the NIA staff and their other violation of the international laws and agreements endorsed by the Kingdom of Bahrain, to conduct inquiries in those complaints whenever such violations are committed for any reason or at any occasion or while they are on duty or if the agency has a role therein. The Inspector General Office ensures its commitment to confidentiality and privacy to every complainant and will seek, according to the law, for realization of rights and establishment of justice, acting within the ambits of its powers.

May God help us in our work!

Inspector General

Mohammad Rashid Al Rumaihi

About the Ombudsman's Office

Establishment of the office of the Inspector General at NIA is the fruition of the directives of His Majesty the King, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain regarding the commitment of Bahrain to execute recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. It is the office which works towards protection of the dignity of people against any maltreatment by the NIA staff, and that is in accordance with an approach ensuring execution of powers delegated to the Inspector General with surety of complete impartiality and handling the job in strict confidence.

Mission

Protection of individual's rights, his personal freedoms and his right to physical safety against any maltreatment by NIA staff, in accordance with the constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain and its valid laws, and in the light of standards and controls laid down in the international conventions endorsed by the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Vision

Disseminating culture of respect for human rights and preservation of individual's dignity and urging the NIA staff to respect human rights and assisting them in performance of their security duties according to international standards and controls for human rights.

Objective

Raising the performance of the office of the Inspector General at NIA, preserving its full independence, neutrality and impartiality, winning trust and confidence of the individual in the ability of the office of the Inspector General to protect him against what could compromise his freedom or physical safety or any of his constitutional rights as a result of any violation by the NIA staff, providing suitable and satisfactory environment to receive citizens' complaints which lie within the office jurisdiction, and taking all guarantees to preserve secrecy of statements, information and documents concerning the office work.