“The Non-Custodial Sanctions" symposium, organized by NAUSS in cooperation with the General Committee of Prisons and Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Justice of Tunisia, was launched on the 14th of December in Tunis in the presence of the Saudi ambassador to Tunisia Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Saqr, and will last from 14 to 16 December 2021
More than 100 specialists are participating in the symposium representing 11 Arab countries: KSA, Jordan, UAE, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, and Morocco.
In a speech, Tunisian Minister of Justice, Leila Jaffel, praised the productive cooperation between the Ministry and NAUSS, noting that Tunisia is currently suffering from overcrowding in prisons, reviewing alternative sanctions taken to alleviate this issue.
From his side, NAUSS President, Dr. Abdulmajeed bin Abdullah Albanyan, said in a speech: "NAUSS, being the scientific body of the Arab Interior Ministers Council and entrusted with the implementation of the recommendations of AIMC and the outputs of the security strategic plan adopted by the Council, and driven by its strategic plan (2019-2023), offers a package of educational and training programs, scientific activities, and specialized studies to increase the efficiencies of Arab personnel, thereby promoting joint Arab action and contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Council".
Moreover, Dr. Albanyan has stated that the symposium highlights the legislative framework of the non-custodial sanctions and their implementation mechanisms, and reviews various Arab experiences in implementing alternative sanctions, and provides opportunities for exchanging experiences among Arab countries on developing the non-custodial sanctions system. NAUSS president also pointed out that the symposium aims to strengthen the system of contemporary justice and improve the penal institutions performance in a manner that is consistent with recent developments and appropriate to society. The symposium looks forward to shedding light on the prospects of the non-custodial sanctions system and their impacts on correctional institutions performance. In addition, it explores ways that can be employed to curb crime and activate non-custodial sanctions to serve the homeland and citizens in all life aspects in a manner that ensures the rehabilitation and reforming of prisoners to return them back to the righteous path and play their natural role in society.
Dr. Albanyan concluded: "The achievements accomplished by NAUSS were possible because of the grace of God and then the great support accorded to NAUSS from HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior, who is the Honorary President of the Arab Interior Ministers Council and Chairman of the Supreme Council of NAUSS, and Their Highnesses and Excellencies Arab Ministers of Interior, to whom we express gratitude and appreciation for continued support and guidance.
The three-day symposium focuses on several topics, the most prominent of which are: the concept of sanction between the traditional criminal system and contemporary justice, the non-custodial sanctions in Arab countries between legislation and practice, prospects of development of non-custodial sanctions system in the Arab countries, as well as considering the role of civil society in non-custodial sanctions.
Additionally, the symposium examines non-custodial sanctions and their impacts on penal institutions.