Global Investigative Journalism Network (https://archive.gijn.org/tag/gulf-reporting-guide/page/2/)
These tips were provided by a researcher on domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.
Media Environment
The media environment in Saudi Arabia is repressive and freedom of speech and expression is limited. The country has repeatedly received heavy criticism from Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Americans for Democracy, and Human Rights in Bahrain, among others.
These tips were provided by Vani Saraswathi, a former Qatar-based journalist and associate editor for Migrant-Rights.org. Media Environment
While Qatar is home to the Al Jazeera network, the global satellite television news network based in the nation’s capital, Doha, there is little or no tolerance for critical reporting within the country.
Media Environment
Oman’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression, but with strong limitations. The 1984 Press and Publications law further outlines the restrictions on journalism and journalists in the country and explicitly prohibits defamation of the ruling family.
Media Environment
Freedom of speech in Kuwait is protected according to Articles 36 and 37 of the country’s constitution. However, that freedom is limited according to what is “specified by the law.”
Criticizing the nation’s top political leader, the Emir of Kuwait, is illegal and could lead to more than five years in prison, physical abuse, extreme interrogation, or deportation.
Media Environment
The Bahraini constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the press, excluding opinions that undermine the fundamental beliefs of Islam or the “unity of the people” and those that promote “discord or sectarianism.” However, the Law of Press, Printing, and Publishing of 2002 is used to restrict free speech; Law 47/2002 includes 17 categories of offenses, three of which allow for prison sentences. Several articles in Bahrain’s Penal Code are also used to restrict freedom of expression in the country, including Article 216 of the Code, which criminalizes anyone who “offends” government institutions and authorities.
Forced labor, human trafficking, and undocumented migration are prevalent across the globe. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, specific and shared characteristics of labor and migration laws and practices facilitate forced labor and human trafficking.
Below we profile 10 stories of trafficking and forced labor common throughout the countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Domestic Workers: Trafficking and Unscrupulous Recruitment
Indian Women Duped by Recruiters.
Experts on forced labor, human trafficking, and irregular migrant labor often focus on a specific country or specific migration corridor in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It is strongly recommended to seek experts from both origin and destination countries as they can provide different insights into the various phases of the migration process.
Below we highlight the most critical sources for understanding trafficking, forced labor, and irregular migration issues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Human Rights Reporting and News
Human Rights Watch: HRW has produced multilingual reporting on the situation of migrant workers and domestic workers in the MENA region since the 2000s.
