THE REGIONAL MEETING OF EXPERTS ON COMBATING THE
PHENOMENON OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WORLDWIDE
Good practices in sheltering victims of trafficking in the MENA
region
On behalf of the Migrant Workers Protection Society in Bahrain, I
would like to take this opportunity to thank the Egyptian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the International Organization for Migration, for
inviting me to participate at this event.
Introduction
I will begin by introducing our society, Migrant Workers’ Protection
Society (MWPS). We are a small society of volunteers who first
worked under the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. In 2005, the
Government of Bahrain formally registered us as a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) . We understand that we are the
first and only society in the Arabian Gulf to work exclusively for
migrant workers.
Though small, we are attempting to do a very significant job since the
expatriate workforce in Bahrain comprises four-fifths of the total of
over half a million. Most of our work is confined to the problems of
low-income, often unskilled workers, both male and female, who
make up the majority of this workforce. Their problems are many and
varied and include complaints of abuse, non-payment of salaries, visa
irregularities, unsafe or unhealthy conditions at work of in their labour
camps, false accusations by sponsors and unjust jail sentences.
Where possible we try to cope with the full range of these diverse
issues ourselves but we have established a good network of
volunteers and professionals whom we can call upon if the tasks are
beyond our capabilities.
It is the aim here today to share with you not only examples of good
practice at work in our shelter but to try to put these examples into the
context of the situation in which we work.
Context of our work
Across the globe, governments and civil societies are trying to tackle
the extensive and ugly phenomenon of human trafficking. The
Kingdom of Bahrain is showing leadership and commitment in trying
to combat this evil practice. In January of this year, our government
introduced an anti-trafficking law which both the authorities and civil
society are working together to implement. All the women in our
shelter are victims of human rights abuses and exploitation, but not
all of them are victims of trafficking. However we consider the good
practices we operate in our shelter to be relevant to all victims,
trafficked or otherwise.
In the Middle East, as many of you know, there is widespread
adherence by governments to what is, in our view, the unacceptable
system of sponsorship for employment. This practice restricts the
migrant worker to working solely for the person who has sponsored
him or her and who has the responsibility of providing him or her with
his or her residence permit. This restriction gives the sponsor
considerable control over the employee who immediately becomes
extremely vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Any employee who
absconds from his or her work, commonly and degradingly referred to
as a ‘runaway’, is then automatically considered an illegal resident,
regardless of his or her reasons for the abscondment. Tales of misery
and horror abound with cases where workers are intimidated into
accepting abusive treatment rather than have their right to work
withdrawn.
The Shelter
One of the society’s first achievements was to open a shelter for
abused female migrant workers. In the 4-year period since 2005,
more than 350 women of various nationalities have been sheltered
and cared for there.
Why do we need a shelter?
The women MWPS support in the shelter are all victims of one,
several or all of the following human rights violations:
confiscation/withholding of passport, non-payment of salaries,
physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse, harassment, working
unacceptably long hours, not being provided with adequate amounts
of food, movement restrictions, for example being locked in their
accommodation, prevented from access to necessary medical
treatment.
Providing shelter not only protects victims from reprisals by their
sponsors and/or agents, but ensures that they are not forced into the
position of having to work for immediate survival which would bring
with it the risk of further exploitation.
Good Practice
MWPS never turns away anyone seeking our assistance and this
inclusivity has earned us the support and the respect of members of
the general public who, in Bahrain, represent many different
nationalities, races and religions.
Once sheltered, women are made to feel safe, welcome and
comfortable and they gradually develop trust and confidence in us.
The majority arrive penniless and are often under-nourished and sick.
In our shelter they are provided with ample food to suit their differing
tastes and given clothes and toiletries. They are taken care of by
Rosie, our sympathetic housekeeper. In fact, the women are
supported not only emotionally and physically but also financially right
up to the point of their departure. More often than not, airline tickets
are provided by our Society together with enough money to enable
them to reach home which can often be many days travel away from
the airport of destination.
While under our care and where possible we arrange for the women
to make contact with their families in their home countries, to
reassure them that they are safe and well. If medical assistance is
required, one of our volunteers will accompany them to hospital and
stay for as long as necessary.
Even though we have limited space and facilities, our volunteers
regularly provide leisure activities in the form of physical exercise,
arts and crafts. Such activities help to reduce stress levels and lift
spirits. Ideally we would like to offer professional counseling and
therapy, as most women come to us in a traumatized or depressed
state but we are not in a position to be able to do this yet.
Our experience has taught us that simply sheltering victims without
carrying out the follow-up work - advocating and liaising on their
behalf with the authorities - is futile. We usually have to initiate
procedures as the authorities are not only too slow but also
sometimes, quite frankly, not interested. This can often be the most
frustrating and challenging part of the work for our volunteers. The
concept of treating abused men and women as ‘victims’ and not
simply branding them as ‘runaways’ is fairly new to most government
agencies and staff and will take time to assimilate. Until the officials
are properly trained at all levels, not only to identify trafficked cases
and cases of abuse but to take immediate and appropriate action, our
volunteers will remain over-burdened. It should be mentioned at this
time that we have worked hard to develop and to retain very good
relations with all the relevant authorities in Bahrain. This has been
important;not only for us but for them too, as we both recognize that
we are mutually dependent upon each others’ cooperation.
The experience of being interviewed either at police stations,
embassies, law courts, government ministries or elsewhere can be
very intimidating for many people and more so for those who have
been unfortunate enough to experience abuse, humiliation, ridicule,
and generally degrading treatment at the hands of those more
powerful than themselves. This is one of the reasons why the women
in our care are always accompanied and supported by our members
and, if required, provided with volunteer translators. We encourage
the women in our care to recognize that they have rights and to
speak out about their experiences even though we realize this is not
easy for them. Many women need considerable amounts of time and
patience expended on them before they are able to speak about their
experiences and it is crucial that they be given this by all the parties
involved in their cases. Fortunately, there is no limit to the length of
time women can be sheltered by us. They can stay with us until their
case is finalized and their passport and belongings returned.
Raising Awareness
Raising awareness about the issues facing low income migrant
workers, particularly issues of trafficking and abuse, is a vital part of
our work both locally in Bahrain and overseas in the ‘sending’
countries. Accordingly, we have made good contacts with the press
who regularly publish our stories. We also engage in what is
essentially ‘marketing’ to other societies, clubs and organizations not
only to inform and to exchange ideas but also to raise funds and we
always make time to meet NGOs and country representatives from
abroad. After the women have returned to their respective home
countries we encourage them to tell their stories to their peers,
families, friends and others who may be prospective migrant workers,
in the hope that they not only manage their expectations but that, if
they are still determined to come, they take sensible precautions.
Even advise on small practicalities such as ensuring individuals have
photocopies of their passports and other documents is useful as
these can be enormously helpful should they find themselves in
trouble.
Unfortunately, our resources, both human and financial are limited.
Except for Rosie, our housekeeper and Joseph, our driver, we are
totally dependent on and greatly indebted to our committed and
compassionate volunteers, who give so much of their time and
energy on a purely voluntary basis.
…………………………………
Everyone deserves the right to work under just and favourable
conditions, to receive fair remuneration for that work, to be given
adequate leisure and rest time and not to be held in servitude or
slavery. We are ever hopeful that, with the adoption by our
government of its new anti-trafficking legislation and with its
forthcoming membership of the Human Rights Commission, the
incidence of abuse and the exploitation of migrant workers, which we
sadly witness on a daily basis in our work, will diminish. Laws will
need to be implemented and the perpetrators of abuse punished.
Equally important though, is the desperate need for local attitudes to
change. Telling the stories, relating the pain and the trauma, the
indignities, the humiliations, the loneliness, the hopelessness - in
short, the injustices - to as many people as possible contribute to this
recognition of our common humanity and serve to change attitudes.
All of us here today have a crucial role to play in bringing about that
change. Good Luck in your efforts and Thank You!