Marching to fight poverty
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 6th April 2007
A SERIES of marches has been lined up by several activist groups to raise awareness of poverty issues in Bahrain.
The first event will take place today near the Jawad Petrol Station, Muqsha.
The 8km route will pass by several villages and end in Duraz.
The event is being jointly organised by the Unemployment Committee, Housing Committee, the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), the Improving Living Standards Committee and the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR).
Participants will also call on Bahrain to sign the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, said BYSHR president Mohammed Al Maskati.
Marching to fight poverty
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 6th April 2007
A SERIES of marches has been lined up by several activist groups to raise awareness of poverty issues in Bahrain.
The first event will take place today near the Jawad Petrol Station, Muqsha.
The 8km route will pass by several villages and end in Duraz.
The event is being jointly organised by the Unemployment Committee, Housing Committee, the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), the Improving Living Standards Committee and the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR).
Participants will also call on Bahrain to sign the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, said BYSHR president Mohammed Al Maskati.
“We need to create awareness about the needs of the poor people, who are being ignored,” he said.
“Each Friday we will be organising the event at or near poor villages to highlight their problems. We will also be carrying slogans calling for them to be given their basic rights. These villages have many, many problems, including very high unemployment rates and houses that are crumbling and could fall at any time,” he said.
Each of the marches will end with a series of speeches by people from the areas being covered.
“Although the aim is to highlight these villages, the event is open for anyone to take part in,” said Mr Maskati.
The routes for the other marches haven’t been decided, but will pass by all “poor” villages around Bahrain including Dair and Samaheej, Muharraq.
Each march will take place from 3.30pm to 6pm.
Mr Maskati said sponsorship or other support is welcome.
For more information, call Mr Maskati on 39813867.
Another demonstration against naturalisation and allegations contained in the Bandargate report will be begin opposite the Ras Ruman Mosque today beginning at 3.30pm.
© Gulf Daily News
