Bahrain

Throughout the Middle East region last week, reported fatalities have remained consistent with the week prior, having dropped significantly since the beginning of November. Meanwhile we see a slight rise in overall demonstrations, the majority of which occurred in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Israel. At the same time, the number of reported battles has risen slightly as well, representative of the ongoing offensives by multiple groups in both Yemen and Syria.

Spotlight on Progress

While much remains to be done in the Arab States region to better address all forms of modern slavery, some positive steps are being taken. Most notably, after several years of persistent lobbying from international rights groups and worker’s unions, the Government of Qatar has pledged a series of labour reforms to improve the treatment of migrant workers there.

by Jack Durrell

Executive Summary

Climate change threatens the viability of agriculture, ecosystems, and rural livelihoods in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In a region where agriculture is a critical source of employment and income, environmental degradation, and declining and more variable productivity, could potentially cause significant displacements, posing challenges in a region already beset by instability.

Throughout the Middle East region last week, reported fatalities dropped significantly – totalling about half of what was reported at the beginning of November. This drop may be related to a dip in reported battles; however, instances of remote violence have risen at the same time. In several countries, demonstrations made up the bulk of events, mostly related to economic or political concerns. In Yemen and Syria, the battle lines have remained relatively static, while in the latter the recent peace talks in Astana have yielded uncertain results.

Executive Summary

Last week in the Middle East region, overall trends in armed violence and demonstrations continued at a similar or reduced rate. In Gaza, diplomatic efforts to curb violence appear to be working, while in Iran and Bahrain demonstrations continued due to a lack of change. In Iraq, armed attacks on civilians rose as Shiite pilgrims made their way across the country, and in Turkey, military forces assaulted Kurdish rebel positions in the southeast. In Syria and Yemen, several new or renewed offensives began in different areas.

Throughout the Middle East region last week, there was a downward trend in instances of both armed conflict and demonstrations – with the exception of Israel/Palestine, where there was a significant increase in cross-border violence. In Lebanon, Jordan, and Iran, isolated events occurred which may lead to further violence, while in Iraq and Turkey, armed insurgencies continued but at a reduced rate. In Yemen and Syria, fighting continued, however the battlegrounds have remained relatively unchanged since the week prior.

Palestinian-Israeli violence continued last week throughout Palestine, with a major increase occurring in the West Bank due to Israeli raids and attacks by settlers on locals, and vice versa. In Iran and Bahrain, demonstrations and civil unrest continued, while in Turkey the investigation into the alleged murder of a journalist in the Saudi consulate carried on with international scrutiny. In Iraq, the increase in attacks on civilians continued in Baghdad and across the country.

Global Overview

Conflict continued at a similar level throughout the Middle East region last week relative to the week prior. In Syria and Yemen, long-planned offensives began and moved forward at a slow pace. In Turkey and Iraq, fighting continued against Kurdish rebel groups in both Iraqi Kurdistan and the Turkish southeast. In Palestine and Bahrain, demonstrations increased, the latter as a result of religious suppression by the ruling regime. While in Iran, a large scale attack on a military parade offered a rare glimpse into the country’s own insurgency.

Distinguished President,
Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva,
Excellencies,
Colleagues and friends,

It is an honour to be called to this mandate, to assist States to uphold the human rights of their people, in this year in which we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Global Overview

Effective Management of Water Resources in Arab World Key to Future Growth and Stability

STOCKHOLM, 28 August 2018 – Water scarcity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region can either be a destabilizing factor or a motive that binds communities together, according to a new joint report from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank, with the difference determined by the policies adopted to cope with the growing challenge.

By Sarah Wade-Apicella

22 August 2018, Incheon – Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan are in advanced stages of disaster risk reduction strategy development and contributing significantly to the achievement of Target E of the Sendai Framework; to increase the number of countries with national and local disaster reduction plans.

Manama, Aug, 18 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has ordered His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King’s Personal Representative for Charity Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Charity Organisation (RCO) that the RCO be in charge of preparing and sending relief materials and providing assistance to affected Indians.

Global Overview JULY 2018

Lord Ahmad publishes Annual Human Rights Report 2017

Minister for Human Rights Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, publishes the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2017 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report.

Today (16 July) Lord Ahmad, the Minister for Human Rights Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, publishes the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2017 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report.

Demonstrations dominated the events reported last week in several countries across the region including in Bahrain, Iran, and Turkey. In Syria, intense activity was reported in Dar’a governorate last week as the government and its allies continued their offensive against rebel and Islamist factions, while parallel offensives in Idleb and northern Hama governorates also continued. Meanwhile, Syrian Democratic Forces conducted security operations in Syria’s Al-Hasakeh governorate targeting Islamic State (IS) militants.

A concentration of political violence was reported last week in Syria and Yemen with proportional rises in events in both southern Syria and Hudayda governorate in Yemen, respectively. Meanwhile, a rise in particular event types has been recorded in other countries in the region, including a rise in reports of kidnappings by Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq last week. Significant demonstrations were also reported in Iran, where labour groups condemned hardship caused by the fall in the Iranian rial.

Manama – Bahrain has become the first Arab State to reach Tier 1 in the US Department of State Trafficking in Persons (TiP) Report, receiving this distinguished honour in the 2018 edition. The TiP report ranks governments by their efforts to acknowledge and combat human trafficking, and the Tier 1 designation concerns countries that comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000. Bahrain moved up from Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2 in 2015, and was a steady performer at Tier 2 for three consecutive years.