US State Department Neglects Persistent Rights Abuses in New TIP Designation for Bahrain

On 28 June 2018, the United States (US) Department of State released its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for 2018, improving Bahrain’s ranking despite persistent concerns over the efficacy of sponsorship reforms as well as broader human rights abuses. It is particularly concerning that the State Department labeled the head of Bahrain’s Labor Market[…]

CERD Releases its Concluding Observations on Racial Discrimination in Saudi Arabia

15 May 2018 – On Friday 11 May, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) released its concluding observations for its review of Saudi Arabia. In its observations, the Committee voices a number of concerns about Saudi Arabia’s treatment of its racial minorities and offers recommendations to bring the kingdom’s practices in line[…]

ADHRB condemns continued discrimination in Saudi Arabia at the kingdom’s CERD review

30 April 2018 – On Tuesday, 24 April 2018, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) participated in Saudi Arabia’s review by the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), submitting a report, delivering an oral statement, and answering questions in front of the Committee’s Rapporteurs. ADHRB’s remarks focused[…]

Bahrain: Reports of Continued Migrants’ Rights Abuses in August

In early August, more than 50 construction workers gathered to protest unpaid wages in Bahrain. The group claimed that almost 200 employees had not been paid since last November. According to local media reports, one protesting employee stated that the company had falsely informed the government that the dues had been paid in order to[…]

New Flexi Permit Could Provide Alternative to Kefala System in Bahrain

Bahrain’s Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) has introduced a new regulation program that aims to give expatriates illegally residing and working in the country a way to obtain legal documentation to stay. This new regulation program, called the Flexi Permit, will be a significant deviation from the current kefala system since it will give workers[…]