Bahrain

Bahrain Commission report details deadly pogroms against migrant workers

Date: 02/01/2012 - 08:32

Amidst the violence of Bahrain’s revolution, an uprising broadly characterized by violent clashes between pro-democracy protestors and government security forces, a different and equally disturbing narrative was taking place throughout the country.

Promover la democracia en la región árabe es también defender a los migrantes

Date: 06/04/2011 - 07:48

De Libia (1) a Bahrein (2), los trabajadores y trabajadoras migrantes se encuentran como rehenes en medio del torbellino de las revueltas populares árabes. Con frecuencia explotados y privados de sus derechos elementales, ahora son directa o indirectamente víctimas de unas políticas represivas que responden a la oleada de esperanza de cambio que está barriendo toda la región. La CSI lanza un llamado de emergencia a la solidaridad internacional y a una respuesta a largo plazo basada en los derechos de los migrantes y la ayuda al desarrollo de los países de origen.

Promouvoir la démocratie dans la région arabe, c’est aussi mieux défendre les migrants

Date: 06/04/2011 - 07:47

De la Libye(1) au Bahreïn(2), les travailleurs et travailleuses migrants se retrouvent pris en otage dans le tourbillon des révoltes populaires arabes. Trop souvent exploités et privés de leurs droits élémentaires, ils sont aujourd’hui directement ou indirectement victimes des politiques répressives qui répondent à la vague d’espoir de changement qui balaie toute la région.

La CSI lance un appel à la solidarité internationale d’urgence et à une réponse à long terme basée sur les droits des migrants et l’aide au développement des pays d’origine.

Promoting Democracy in the Arab Region Will Also Protect Migrants

Date: 06/04/2011 - 07:46

From Libya (1) to Bahrain(2), migrant workers have been caught hostage in the whirlwind of the popular uprisings in the Arab world. All too often exploited and denied their rights, they are today the direct or indirect victims of the repressive policies imposed in response to the wave of hope for change sweeping the region. The ITUC is calling for urgent international solidarity and a long term response based on migrants’ rights and development aid for their countries of origin.

Foreign Labourers Targeted Throughout Bahrain

Date: 30/03/2011 - 13:41

As protests in Bahrain continue, increasingly migrant workers are being victimised in violent hate crimes.

"We expats are victims of hate crimes because we didn’t leave the country or become part of the general strike called by the opposition to keep Bahrain on hold," Nastufi Sharma, an Indian who has been working in Bahrain since 1997, told IPS. "To stop locals from going to work, roads were blocked… we were attacked."

Sharma isn’t considering leaving the country yet, but risks unemployment if the situation deteriorates further.

Bahrain: Victim versus victim

Date: 23/02/2011 - 10:09

“THEY were beating me so hard I could no longer see, there was so much blood running from my head.” These were the words of Bahraini physician Dr Sadek Al-Ikri to BBC reporters about the security forces’ crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain.

But this was not all. Dr Al-Ikri also told the journalists that the men beating him refused to stop even when he told them that he was a doctor and that he spoke Urdu.

From Bahrain to Malaysia: Mobilising to Defend Migrants Rights

Date: 26/01/2011 - 15:24

The Middle East is a dark zone for migrant workers’ rights, especially domestic workers. What concrete, on-the-ground initiatives are trade unions taking to defend their rights?

Reports from Bahrain, where trade unions are fighting alongside migrants and are managing to make headway, together with testimonies from Malaysia and India, where the ITUC is supporting projects for migrants as part of its international cooperation policy for Asia.

Download the report here

New push for maids' rights in Bahrain

Date: 31/12/2010 - 07:13

Volunteers plan to launch a nationwide initiative to set up a system that monitors job contracts of domestic workers to avoid any exploitation attempts. It is being spearheaded by Nabeel Rajab, president of the dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, as the world marks the International Migrants Day. 'Domestic workers in Bahrain are the vulnerable group prone to undignified abuses,' he said.

Local human rights group has called on Bahrain to support a new International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention on domestic workers.

Date: 09/06/2010 - 08:44

The Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) has sent a letter to Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi urging the government to support the convention, supplemented by a recommendation, at this year's and the 2011 International Labour Conferences. They call on the government to ensure the convention recognises the special conditions in which domestic work is carried out, set out clear rules to prevent abuse, and promotes equality for domestic workers under labour laws.

UN human rights chief notes changes under way in Gulf region, highlights key concerns

Date: 21/04/2010 - 09:20

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Monday she believes there is an “encouraging level of governmental activity to improve human rights” in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, especially in the area of economic and social rights, children’s rights and human trafficking, while also noting an array of continuing concerns about women’s rights, migration, statelessness, and freedom of expression, association and assembly.