Bahrain Helps Housemaids

Housemaid abuse in Bahrain has been well-documented.  Many migrant workers have been beaten, sexually abused, and denied wages.  The exploited maids usually are poor women hoping to support their families back at home.  However, the hopes are usually proven false, as employers commonly take advantage of the maids by forcing them to comply with sponsors. For example, a large Bahraini hiring agency was recently investigated for allegedly beating its housemaids.  The complaint stemmed after rescuing a Sri Lankan woman from her employer.  Although she was not abused personally, she witnessed over 20 fellow maids being beaten and returned to their sponsors. 

Recognizing the problem, the Bahraini government has taken steps to help the housemaids.  The Bahraini government created amnesty for the maids desiring to return to their home nation.  One purpose of this six month amnesty is to allow abused women bypass employers to return to their country, and avoid repercussions for breaching their contract.  Also, the amnesty allows expatriates to register with the Bahraini government to prevent future deportation.  The registration of expatriates will allow the government to better regulate the migrant workers, and hopefully protect against future discrimination and abuse. 

Also, the Bahraini government promised to elevate the women to “worker” status in 2009.  It promises to set legal standards for the maid industry to define how an employer can treat housemaids.  This includes fees for hiring maids, minimum wage, and other regulations barring mistreatment of the maids.  Previously, the employers were given free reign to self-regulate their maids.  The government is hopeful that the creation of a uniform standard will make employers legally accountable for the treatment of their maids and eliminate abuse, discrimination, and maltreatment.

Gulf Daily News. Maids’ abuse to be probed. 20 July 2007.
Gulf News.  Bahrain extends amnesty to housemaids. 30 July 2007.
Zawya. Bahrain: ‘Worker’ status for housemaids soon. 28 July 2007.
Bahrain Tribune. Amnesty requests pour in. 2 August 2007.
Gulf Daily News. Victims of Desperation. 8 July 2007.

Resolution for Darfur Peacekeeping Force Approved

By Impunity Watch Africa

A new UN Security Council resolution to send 26,000 peacekeepers to Darfur was unanimously approved Tuesday, and approved by Sudan today. Sudan hailed the resolution as a diplomatic victory and promised to uphold the deal since it respects Sudanese sovereignty.    In June Sudan agreed to a compromise deal for the African Union to deploy a joint AU-UN peacekeeping force to end the violence.  A resolution from the Security Council was slow coming however, due to Sudan’s opposition over talks of sanctions and condemning language.

The new mission authorized yesterday will absorb the current AU force that has failed to end the violence in Sudan’s Darfur region.  The resolution authorizes up to 19,555 military personnel and 6,432 civilian police.  The force is expected to have selected its commanders by October in order to take over operations from the AU force by the end of the year.  The operation is expected to cost $2 billion in the first year.

Under the authority of Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, the resolution authorizes force for self-defense, to ensure the free movement of aid workers, and to protect civilians under attack.   The resolution does not, however, allow force to seize illegal arms, providing that such weapons are only to be monitored.  US academic and Sudan expert Eric Reeves stated that the deletion of such provisions weakened the resolution.  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, who conducted months of talks with Khartoum, described the resolution as “historic and unprecedented.”   Although the resolution no longer includes threats of sanctions, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown threatened to impose them if the killing continues.

The main Darfur rebel group, the Sudan Liberation Movement, has stated they are encouraged by the tough language of the resolution.  However, SLM spokesman Yahia Bolad says they will reserve final judgment to see whether the peacekeepers are in fact able to enforce the agreement.   Another major concern of the group is that a majority of the land abandoned by civilians in Darfur have since been taken over by Arabs backed by the Sudanese government. The SLM will not start thinking about a political agreement for Darfur until the attacks cease and settlement issues are resolved.

International experts estimate that over 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced from their homes since the conflict began in 2003.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica – Sudan: AU, UN Force to Keep Peace – 01 August 2007

Christian Science Monitor – Sudan agrees to 26,000 UN troops in Darfur – 01 August 2007

Reuters – Sudan Pledges to Work with UN Darfur Force – 01 August 2007

VOA – Sudan Accepts Darfur Resolution, Rebels Have Their Doubts – 01 August 2007

Washington Post – Sudan Hails UN Peacekeepers – 01 August 2007

Sex Crimes in Democratic Republic of Congo

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch, Africa

In the South Kivu province of Democratic Republic of Congo, the scale of violence against women is shocking. According to UN human rights expert, Yakin Erturk, rebels, soldiers, and police in the eastern province are responsible for brutal attacks on local women. Women in South Kivu have been tortured and forced to eat human remains. Moreover, women are violently gang raped often in front of their families and communities.

This year alone, more than 4,500 rape cases have been reported in South Kivu. However, officials believe that there are many more cases that have gone unreported. Erturk stated that “most victims live in inaccessible areas [and] are afraid to report or did not survive the violence,”

While there are 16,000 UN peacekeepers in DRC, many Congolese women continue to suffer from violent rape and sexual assault. Erturk believes that “these acts amount to war crimes and, in some cases, crimes against humanity.”

Furthermore with over six million displaced Congolese people, it is a difficult task for the government to apprehend and punish those responsible for the violence against women. Presently, there has been no formal action taken against identified security personnel who have raped civilians.

For more information, please see:

AP – Sexual Atrocities `Rampant’ in Congo, UN Investigator Says – 31 July 2007

BBC – Shock at Sex Crimes in DR Congo – 30 July 2007

MONUC – South Kivu: 4,500 Sexual Violence Cases in the First Six Months of This Year Alone – 27 July 2007

Stranded Palestinians return to Gaza

When Hamas  took over Gaza in early June, Egypt closed its border crossing and stranded six thousand Palestinians.  While governments discussed the methods of returning these people to their homes, thousands were trapped in Egypt for nearly two months.  Some of the travelers brought little money with them  and consequentially could not afford lodging or food and were forced to seek refuge in mosques or help from aid organizations. 

The reason why these individuals have been trapped for this long is that Israel and Hamas have been in disagreement over which border crossing should be used when these Gazans return home.  Israel wants the stranded individuals to use border crossings located in Israel, where they would have greater control over who enters Gaza and who does not.  Hamas demands that the only crossing to be used is the Rafah crossing in Egypt.  This is because while the crossing is electronically monitored by Israel, the Israel’s control would be limited.

However, despite this disagreement between Israel and Hamas, Israel and Egypt made an agreement on July 28, that permits the return of several hundred stranded Gazans.  The agreement called for 100 Palestinians to be transported into Israel and allowed to return to Gaza on July 29 and over 500 on July 30.  While Hamas threatened to react violently if any other crossing besides Rafah was used, there have been no reports of violence.

Israeli officials approved all of the Palestinians who were permitted to return to Gaza.  As a result, there are reports of favoritism and discrimination.  Some of those left behind said that they were not able to register for return because they were members of the Hamas party, while others claim that the process was made easier for Fatah supporters.

While a small portion of those stranded in Egypt returned home, Egypt and Israel are continuing negotiations regarding the return of the remaining Palestinians.

For more information please see:

Reuters:  “Israel wounds 7 in Gaza; hundreds return from Egypt”  30 July 2007. 

Al Jazeera:  “Gazans return home via Israel”  29 July 2007. 

BBC:  “Palestinians return to Gaza Strip”  29 July 2007. 

International Herald Tribune:  “Plight of stranded Palestinians nears end as more than 100 begin journey home”  29 July 2007. 

Jerusalem Post:  “Over a hundred Gazans return home”  29 July 2007. 

Desperately Waiting

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch, Africa

Zimbabwe’s condition continues to fall as the country grips the worst crisis since its independence from Britian in 1980.  In an effort to curb the continued despair of the country, President Robert Mugabe has pledged to print more money. This strategy is not likely to help the economic condition given that printing money is a “recipe for inflation”. Economists estimate the inflation rate will likely be twice as high as the current rate of 4,500 percent.

Thousands left their jobs when the government ordered companies to operate at a loss by reducing the price of goods and services by half. Unemployment is presently at 80 percent. Along with food and oil shortages, hospitals are losing kidney patients due to the lack dialysis machines. Furthermore, pharmacies are advising AIDS patients to stock up on their drugs. Roughly 20 percent of Zimbabweans have AIDS and raw materials will soon run out. Another serious problem lies in the breakdowns of water pumps.

An estimated 4,000 Zimbabweans have headed south to South Africa. The Central Methodist Church in downtown Johannesburg has become a virtual refugee camp for 800-900 fleeing Zimbabweans.  South African President Thabo Mbeki warns that next years election in Zimbabwe must be free and fair. Political unrest continues to rise and President Mugabe’s opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), gets stronger as the country falls. President Mbeki, who continues to play mediator between President Mugabe and the MDC, adds that he is confident an agreement would be met.

In the meantime, Arthur Mutambara, the leader of the MDC has decided to intensify the campaign against President Mugabe with the joint coalition of political and social organizations. Mutambara said that the country cannot rely on foreigners to emancipate and liberate it, it must have an alternate plan.

For more information please see:

Yahoo – Mbeki Says Zimbabwe’s Vote Must Be ‘Free and Fair’ – 29 July 2007

Yahoo – South African Church Shelters Desperate Zimbabweans – 29 July, 2007

Yahoo – Mugabe Says He Will Print More Money – 28 July 2007

Yahoo – We Cannot Rely on South African Leader Alone: Zimbabwe Opposition – 28 July 2007