The Ministry of Interior (MoI) held a ceremony Monday to announce the first research award dedicated to upgrading penal and correctional institutions.
The event was organised by the permanent committee for punitive and correctional institutions, in collaboration with endowment fund for scientific and cultural development of the General Department of Endowments under the patronage of HE the Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Held at the Officers Club of the General Directorate of Civil Defence, the ceremony was attended by Director-General of Civil Defence Maj Gen Hamad bin Othman al-Duhaimi, Director of Penal and Correctional Institutions Department and chairman of the permanent committee for punitive and correctional institutions Brig. Gen Nasser Mohamed al-Sayed, HE Director General of the General Directorate of Endowments, vice chairman of the Committee Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Ghanim al-Thani, alongside several directors at MoI, officers and specialists.
To mark this occasion, Brig. Gen al-Sayed said the aim of launching the award is to primarily promote research that target reforming inmates, rehabilitating them, returning them to community as good individuals, studying their humanitarian and social conditions, as well as the legislation that regulates penal and correctional institutions, and establishing the global principle which affirms that these institutions are solely for reform and rehabilitation.
HE Dr Sheikh Khalid said the award promotes the vital role performed by the institution in protecting the community and offering a wholesome, conducive environment for individuals who contribute to developing the community, pointing out that the award will offer qualitative research that promote work, understand better practices and share experiences and expertise.
He hoped the research would be a scientific reference for those operating in punitive and correctional institutions globally.
The theme of the award primarily focuses on the programmes of successful care, reform and rehabilitation in prisons, as per experiences of several countries around the world, as researchers can change the title in a way that does not deviate from the content of the award topic.
Special awards have been dedicated to subscribers. First-place winner will receive QR150,000, while winner of the second place will receive QR100,000, with the winner of the third place receiving QR50,000. They will also receive certificates of appreciation.
In addition, the MoI said the participation in the award is available for all researchers at home and abroad. Those who desire to participate shall submit their research via the designated website on the specified dates, adding that participants are invited to register and submit their research during the period from Jan 29 to Feb 27, 2025, for the award results to be announced on July 17, 2025.
The information about the award, along with scientific and formal requirements for the research can be obtained via the link: https://awqaf.gov.qa/eslah/.
