Sheikh Nimr and the 2011-2012 Eastern Province protests

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was a prominent voice in the struggle against Shia discrimination in Saudi Arabia. He played a large and symbolic role in the 2011-2012 demonstrations in the Eastern Province. As a result of his support for the peaceful protests, Saudi security forces arrested him in 2012 and sentenced him to death. His death[…]

HRC32: ADHRB urges Council to adopt stronger criteria for membership

On June 24, ADHRB International Advocacy Officer Michael Payne delivered an oral intervention at the 32nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva under Item 5.  Please continue reading for full remarks or click here to download a PDF. Mr. President, On occasion of the 10-year anniversary of the Human Rights Council, Americans for[…]

HRC32: ADHRB calls attention to violence against domestic workers in GCC

On June 20, ADHRB associate Amanda Milani delivered an oral intervention at the 32nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva under Item 3.  Please continue reading for full remarks or click here to download a PDF. Madam Rapporteur, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain, together with the Bahrain Institute for Rights[…]

UN Bows to Saudi Pressure and Removes them from ‘Blacklist’ over Conflict in Yemen

On 2 June, the United Nations (UN) released an annual ‘blacklist’ of countries and armed groups that have committed “grave violations” against children, including parties that recruit, kill, and/or abduct children, as well as conduct attacks on schools and hospitals. The list includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo, government forces in Syria, the Islamic[…]

Domestic workers experience heightened abuse during Ramadan

In February, Somalia announced plans to send an estimated 50,000 workers yearly to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Currently, this plan is awaiting approval from both countries. Recently, Somalia announced that it would send between 600 and 1,000 domestic workers to the kingdom just ahead of the start of the month of Ramadan. Migrant workers[…]