Bahrain-27th Session May 2017-Violence against women / gender-based violence

Para 59) With regard to protection and accountability mechanisms, the following are some of the pivotal measures taken with a view to ensuring the full protection of women and their families in various circumstances: • The adoption of Act No. 19 of 2017 promulgating the Family Code, which constituted a quantum leap in the judicial system in terms of family affairs; • The promulgation of Act No. 17 of 2015 concerning Protection against Domestic Violence; • Establishment of the Family and Child Prosecution Department, which is mandated to act on behalf of groups referred to in the Act concerning Protection against Domestic Violence in all cases involving psychological, physical, sexual and economic abuse in order to ensure that such groups are guaranteed the privacy that is required in such cases; • Establishment and mobilization of special offices in the police departments of the Ministry of the Interior that are mandated to provide protection for families and children and to handle cases professionally, efficiently, effectively, expeditiously and flexibly when providing family counselling services; • Opening of eight family counselling centres in social centres based in all the Kingdom’s governorates to provide psychological, social and legal counselling to all family members; the licensing, in addition, of four civil society centres affiliated with civil society associations and five private centres; • Opening of a temporary shelter to protect women victims of violence and their children, and to provide them with all necessary subsistence, legal and psychological services. Para 99) The following are some of the social services provided to contract workers: … The Dar Al-Aman (Safety Shelter) for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, and victims of psychological, physical and social violence, regardless of whether they are Bahrainis or non-Bahrainis; it is the first of its kind in the region.