US Department of State Releases Trafficking in Persons Reports, Remains Critical of GCC Governments

Yesterday, the US Department of State released the 2016 Trafficking in Persons country narratives. Reports revealed that none of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states have attained a Tier 1 status indicating compliance with minimum standards in eliminating human trafficking. Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) welcomes these thorough reports[…]

United Nations Special Procedures Report on GCC for HRC32

On 27 May 2016, the Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) published the 14th iteration of their joint communications report documenting allegations of human rights abuses from around the world. In the most recent edition of the report, the Special Procedures singled out Kuwait for sentencing – and attempting to revoke[…]

Allegations of Torture and Discrimination Raise Tensions in Kuwait

A Kuwaiti court recently convicted 22 Shia citizens and an Iranian national of offenses based on accusations of espionage and the intention to undertake “hostile acts” on behalf of Iran and Hezbollah, reportedly leading to an escalation of sectarian tensions in Kuwait. The charges came after security forces raided several farmhouses along the Iraqi border and[…]

Spotlight on Oman: A Move to Protect Migrant Domestic Workers

Migrant domestic workers are set to receive greater protection in Oman, according to an announcement made last week by Oman’s Ministry of Manpower. On April 27, the advisor to the Minister of Manpower, Salem Al Saadi, told the Times of Oman that the government is planning to legalize the rights of migrant domestic workers (MDWs)[…]

Spotlight on Kuwait: Workers’ Rights in Economic Slump

In Kuwait last week, thousands of Kuwaiti oil and gas industry workers launched a three-day strike in protest over cuts to their wages and benefits. The protest marked a clear sign of how low-waged workers, such as nationals employed in the oil fields as well as other migrant workers employed in the construction and service[…]