Email this page

News & Updates

Human Trafficking Victims in Bahrain Difficult to Find

MIGRANT workers' rights activists say they are helpless when it comes to assisting victims of human trafficking in Bahrain to benefit from the government's general amnesty.

Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) action committee head Marietta Dias said women being held against their will and controlled by others are likely to have little chance of making it to the relevant authorities.

"Human trafficking victims are of concern to us, but what can we do?" she told the GDN. "We have no idea where these people are being held or whether they have come here on their own free will. "We hope that these people can somehow take advantage of the amnesty, but how we get to the victims is the main thing."

Her comments come after Thai Embassy officials said the fear of arrest was preventing many of its people from taking part in the amnesty. A spokesman said misconceptions about the scheme meant people mistakenly believe they will be questioned by police and prevented from returning to Bahrain.

Up to 1,000 Thais are estimated to be working illegally in Bahrain and an unknown number of women are believed to have been victims of human trafficking. Ms Dias said that court cases surrounding some illegal workers could also prevent expatriates from taking advantage of the amnesty, if verdicts are not reached before the December 31 deadline.

"These people sometimes do not even know there is a case against them," she said. "However, I was told that the Justice and Islamic Affairs Ministry has been asked to fast track these sort of cases."

Ms Dias claimed many cases that sponsors file against workers involved "false" claims, especially that they had stolen something. She said that while the courts would be able to uncover the truth, the time taken to reach a verdict might mean some will miss their chance to travel home during the amnesty period.

It is hoped thousands of illegal workers will be able to benefit from the scheme, which came into force last Wednesday, by returning home without prosecution or legalising their stay. 
 
Adapted from: Geoffrey bew. "Human trafficking victims failing to turn up." Gulf Daily News. 8 August 2007.