NIHR hosts RAP master's students delegation

The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) recently hosted a visit by a delegation of the Royal Academy of Police (RAP) master's degree students.

The delegation's visit was part of the field tours organized by the Royal Academy of Police to the relevant ministries and human rights institutions to familiarize the students with the work and services of these bodies in boosting and protecting human rights as well as to impart the students with practical skills in this field.

On the side-line of the visit, the Head of Complaints, Monitoring and Follow-up in the National Institution for Human Rights, Maria Khoury, presented an introductory lecture to the delegation about the National Institution for Human Rights and its historic evolution and legal frame and method of its formation according to the Principles of Paris.

The lecturer outlined the Institution's jurisdictions as prescribed by the law behind its creation aims to achieve its goals in boosting and protecting human rights.

The Complaints, Monitoring and Follow-up Committee, chaired by Maria Khoury, includes the monitoring of cases of human rights violations, conducting the necessary investigations, drawing the attention of the relevant sides to such violations, offering suggestions regarding the initiatives aimed to end such cases, and whenever necessary, the committee gives its opinion regarding the position and response of these bodies.

The committee receives, considers, investigates, studies and refers the complaints pertaining to the competent bodies and effectively follows up such cases and notifies the relevant bodies and assists them to take the necessary action and settle the matter with the concerned sides. The committee conducts field tours as per applicable standards to monitor the situations of human rights in reformatory institutions and detention centres, workers' accommodations, educational and health facilities or any other locations where human rights violations are suspected to have been committed.

She said there is a great evolution in the performance of staff of the Directorate of Reformatories and Rehabilitation and positive prompt response from the Directorate which enables the National Institution to carry out its duties in the most perfect manner.

In conclusion of her lecture, Maria Khoury said the door of the National Institution for Human Rights is open to all citizens and residents to receive their complaints and provide them with assistance and legal consultation and to monitor for them, starting from the Institution's receiving of the complaint, communicating with the relevant bodies for the purpose of direct follow-up and notifying the complainant about the actions taken and the result of the complaint.