94% of assistance requests dealt with

Manama, June 1 (BNA): Ombudsman Office announced the issuance of its third annual report (1 May 2015-30 April 2016). The Ombudsman, in its statement issued today, said the complaints and assistance requests contained in the third annual report top nine hundred and ninety two, recording an increase of 9% compared to last year. 94% of the assistance requests received by the Ombudsman were dealt with, especially those requests from inmates or their relatives related to health care, visits, phone calls, education and other individual ones. This year statistics shows a decrease in the complaints filed against the security personnel, particularly against the Special Forces in respect of performing their duties in maintaining the public order, where only two complaints were filed this year compared to fourteen ones filed last year. Allegations of physical abuse formed a low percentage of the total complaints received. While the assistance requests submitted by the inmates and remand prisoners reported an increase compared to last year, which calls for a urgent coordination between Health and Interior ministries to improve health care services for inmates and detainees. The annual report indicates that 365 females and 558 males have filed complaints and assistance requests, where most of the complaints filed were by age groups of 26-35 years old which have touched 269 ones. The Ombudsman said that the progressive increase of complaints filed since its inception in 2013 indicates the establishment of high confidence in its performance.