The United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) convened in Geneva on 18 and 19 November 2025 to examine Bahrain’s fourth periodic report and assess Manama’s compliance with the Convention Against Torture. The sessions focused on evaluating ongoing torture and ill-treatment in Bahraini prisons, including documented cases reported by political prisoners, as well as the extent[…]
29
Oct
Oct
Introduction The repression of human rights activists and political dissidents is one of the biggest problems in the Gulf states. There are constant reports of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture in prisons and other incidents targeting these groups. Those who want to fight to assert their rights or criticise regimes that stifle them always find[…]
23
Jun
Jun
Context and Background The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—have long been criticized for employing repressive domestic measures that violate international human rights standards. In the years since the 2011 Arab uprisings, these governments have intensified their crackdown on dissent through the enactment of repressive[…]
11
Jun
Jun
This briefing paper examines the widespread and institutionalized exploitation of women migrant domestic workers across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. Despite public commitments to reform, the kafala (sponsorship) system remains the primary mechanism governing migrant labor. Under this system, a worker’s immigration status is[…]
03
Jun
Jun
Introduction The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to systematically violate the rights of its Shia citizens amid a complete absence of structural reforms to address entrenched sectarian discrimination. Despite the official promotion of “Vision 2030” as a path toward modernization and openness, Shia communities remain subject to restrictive policies that limit their rights in religion,[…]
