Governments in Asia and the Middle East must take stronger action to fight rampant abuse against migrant workers, several migrants’ and human rights groups said in a joint letter on the eve of December 18, International Migrants’ Day.

The U.S. State Department's third annual trafficking in persons report fails to meaningfully evaluate governments' efforts to combat trafficking in persons, Human Rights Watch said today.

Millions of migrants who work in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries lack real legal protection, Human Rights Watch said today. In letters to the six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- Human Rights Watch strongly urged their leaders to endorse the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

Qatar should arrest and prosecute Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, a visiting senior Iraqi official suspected of responsibility for crimes of genocide, mass murder and torture, Human Rights Watch urged today.

Trade ministers at the upcoming WTO summit in Doha, Qatar should abandon threats of sanctions against countries trying to obtain medicines for health emergencies such as HIV/AIDS, Human Rights Watch said today. The WTO summit will take place from November 9 to 13.

Human Rights Watch called on the World Trade Organization's General Council to reverse the decision announced that the WTO will hold its next ministerial meeting in the Persian Gulf state of Qatar. The selection of
Qatar, reportedly made in an informal meeting earlier today, is slated to be confirmed when the General Council meets in Geneva on January 30.