Bahraini Minister claims no human trafficking problem in BahrainBahraini
Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi has denied that the country has a problem with human trafficking. The minister claimed that the Bahraini government had taken all legal measures against human trafficking and had set up a social protection network to avoid it. The claim was made despite the fact that Bahrain has yet to enact a law against human trafficking, a measure which is still being discussed. The minister argued that since only five expatriate women had come to a shelter set up for them two months ago, there cannot really be a problem. It is, of course, possible that fear and constraint may prevent women coming to the shelter.
Bahraini Minister claims no human trafficking problem in BahrainBahraini
Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi has denied that the country has a problem with human trafficking. The minister claimed that the Bahraini government had taken all legal measures against human trafficking and had set up a social protection network to avoid it. The claim was made despite the fact that Bahrain has yet to enact a law against human trafficking, a measure which is still being discussed. The minister argued that since only five expatriate women had come to a shelter set up for them two months ago, there cannot really be a problem. It is, of course, possible that fear and constraint may prevent women coming to the shelter.
In November 2006 Special rapporteur for the UN Commission on Human Rights, Sigma Huda warned that, of the total 300,000 migrant workers in Bahrain, the 50,000 women were particularly vulnerable and that having been falsely promised decent work, they were often subject to 14-16 hour working days, imprisonment in the home if engaged in domestic labour, confiscation of passports, and even sexual abuse. Huda added; “Physical abuse is also a problem. Some victims told me of incidents of severe and traumatic abuse including mental and verbal abuse,”
In July 2006, the Bahrain Human Rights Watch organization warned that the 40,000 domestic workers in the country were vulnerable to abuse and that some could have been trafficked. There was also concern that such workers might not be covered by actions being taken by the Bahraini government.
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