Comprehensive Training Program
Bahrain: National Security Agency is to commence a comprehensive training program as from January 22, 2012.
Information Affairs Authority, Manama, 18 January 2012: As part of its commitment to fully implement the BICI recommendations, the Government announced that the National Security Agency has developed a comprehensive training program that will commence from 22 January 2012. This training will be carried out over revolving periods of six months and be provided to all personnel.
The BICI recommended that the NSA “implement an extensive program of public order training in accordance with UN practices.” In order to further develop a highly modern and sensitive public security force, a wide-ranging and extensive training program has been developed.
The BICI recommendations clarify that the NSA “implement an extensive program of public order training in accordance with UN practices.” In order to further develop a highly modern and sensitive public security force, a wide-ranging, extensive and comprehensive training program has been developed.
This comprehensive training program applies the best international practices, including those of the UN. The training modules will include intensive courses on promotion and respect for human rights and appropriate professional conduct. Part of the comprehensive training will focus on how NSA personnel are to interact with members of the public.
The comprehensive training will take the assistance of international experts and will continue to be developed in the future. The NSA is seeking the UN’s input on the curriculum.
Earlier, the government had passed a decree making the NSA a purely intelligence gathering agency with no law enforcement powers. This means the NSA will have limited interaction with the public.
The NSA is also studying the best mechanisms to establish an internal office of Inspector General, which will play the role of ombudsman and watchdog.
Last week, the Government made progress on various fronts in its drive to implement all the recommendations of the BICI report in full including commencing work to reconstruct twelve demolished places of worship and encouraging private employers to reinstate workers dismissed during the unrest of February and March 2011. So far, the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC; the largest event venue in the Middle East) and BATELCO (leading telecom in the Middle East) have reinstated dismissed workers.
The press release above has been issued by Information Affairs Authority, P.O. Box 253, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: (+973) 17 872 556 / Fax: (+973) 17 682 777.
For press enquiries, please contact the Press Office on press@iaa.gov.bh or Miss Luma Bashmi on lbashmi@iaa.gov.bh.