The Washington Center for Human Rights successfully hosted a noteworthy conference titled “Review of the Human Rights in the Bahrain Human Trafficking.” The event took place on May 28th, from 12 to 14 pm. It provided much time for in-depth investigation and dialogue. The event was held at the Intercultural Center (ICC) Auditorium, Washington, DC 20057, USA, in collaboration with the Center for Intercultural and Education Development, Georgetown University.
The Panel of Distinguished Guest Speakers includes Brendan Whittington, a Human Rights Expert – Middle East; Kristin Smith Diwan, a Senior Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington; and July Jsblalac, Human Rights Advocate and Researcher.
Speakers embarked on a critical examination of the human trafficking issue in Bahrain. The discussions illustrated the complexities of human trafficking because of its violation of human rights and international laws. The event caught reputable participation from attendees. It reflected the widespread praise of its importance in addressing pressing global issues. Furthermore, the public reaction to the event was overwhelmingly promising.
Bahrain is a Source and destination nation for men and women subjected to trafficking in persons, especially forced labour and coerced prostitution. Individuals from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Eritrea migrate willingly to Bahrain to labour as domestic workers or as inexperienced labourers in the construction and service industries. Some, however, front conditions of forced labour after reaching Bahrain, through the use of such practices as illegal withholding of passports, constraints on movement, contract substitution, non-payment of salaries, threats, and physical or sexual abuse.
An investigation by the Bahrain Government’s Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) discovered that 65 per cent of migrant workers had not witnessed their work contract and that 89 per cent were clueless about their terms of employment upon coming to Bahrain. Many labour recruitment agents in Bahrain and source countries demand workers to pay high recruitment costs– a practice that causes workers highly helpless to forced labour once in Bahrain.
There is some manifestation that government officials may be engaged in human trafficking. NGOs and labourers claim that Bahraini officials provide Bahrainis with permission to sponsor more expatriate employees than they could politely employ and that in their private accommodations, some officials unlawfully engage in “free visa” arrangements and withhold workers’ passports and salaries.