Bahrain will serve as a regional base for an international group that protects children in conflict countries and promotes their rights, a report said.

Experts working with the International Organisation for Child Protection (INCPT) will also tackle local issues such as preventing children from being exploited by radical groups in Bahrain and providing psychological support to those suffering from sexual abuse, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Prominent rights activist Salman Nasser, who is assisting INCPT establish an office in Manama, said the organisation plans to conduct nationwide training sessions to educate people about children's rights.

'INCPT officials have held meetings with Bahrain officials to set up their regional office here,' he told the GDN.

'This is a big step for our country whose youth were affected by the events that unfolded post 2011 and this office will work on plans for rehabilitation of the affected youth.'

The GDN has reported on scores of protests in the last four years in which children blocked roads with rubbish bins, water tanks and palm trees in an attempt to disrupt traffic.

There are several online videos showing young Bahrainis hurling Molotov cocktails at policemen or even planting homemade bombs.

Rights activists have accused radical opposition groups in Bahrain of mirroring countries in war-torn Africa where child soldiers are recruited to carry out attacks.

However, Nasser stressed that one of INCPT's aims was to prevent children from being targeted by such groups.

'Almost all credible rights groups in Bahrain have highlighted this problem of children being pushed to the front lines of these violent protests, which has reduced in recent times,' he said.

'They end up getting injured or arrested during violent clashes which we have to stop.

'The plans are not finalised but what we are aiming is nationwide campaigns to speak about child rights and the importance of creating a safe place for all children in Bahrain.'

Nasser said experts working with the organisation in Bahrain will also tackle regional issues such as supporting children in war-torn countries.

'One of the areas this office in Bahrain will be working on is to help support young children in Yemen and other conflict countries,' he explained.

'This office will deal with issues children face such as bullying, sexual violence and rehabilitation of juveniles, and will also advocate for the protection and promotion of child rights at the highest level.

'We intend to partner up with the Social Development Ministry and the Interior Ministry to set up special programmes that support INCPT's mandate.'

An INCPT delegation, headed by president Dr Abdulaziz Al Subaie from Kuwait and chief financial officer Faraj Al Qasimi from Bahrain, have already met Bahraini authorities to complete formalities to open an office in Manama soon.

In March last year, the GDN reported on 11-year-old Haidar Khalid Saeed, who was out with his friend Ahmed Shaker Al Mahoozi, 10, when his hand was blown apart by an explosive device.

Police at the time said the Bahraini boys were ordered to carry a bomb and plant it at a specific location by older men, but their families maintained that the two were just playing in the street when they came across a strange object that exploded when touched.

In April last year, 16-year-old Ahmed Abdulrasool Al Masjen and 18-year-old Ali Abas Ali Ahmed died in Meqsha when a homemade bomb they were allegedly transporting detonated in their car. – TradeArabia News Service