• Qatar: Abolish Exit Visas for Migrant Workers
    May 30, 2013
    Qatar should immediately abolish its exit visa requirements, which expose migrant workers to the risk of exploitation and abuse. The exit visa system can prevent foreigners from leaving the country merely on the say-so of a current or former employer. The case of a French professional footballer who is unable to leave Qatar illustrates how the exit visa system can be used against migrant workers in disputes with their employers. Zahir Belounis, who played for the Al Jaish team, is pursuing a claim for unpaid wages in the Qatari courts. He told Human Rights Watch that his former employers have insisted that he drop his claim or they will not issue him the exit visa he must produce to leave Qatar.
  • North Korea: Activists Welcome Japan’s Support for Inquiry
    Feb 5, 2013

    The International Coalition to Stop Crimes against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK), consisting of over 40 leading human rights organizations and activists, today welcomes Japan’s strong position in favor of the establishment of a new United Nations commission of inquiry on serious human rights violations committed by the North Korean Government at home and abroad.

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Migrants, Forced Labor

  • Eritrea: Submission to the Universal Periodic Review
    Jun 20, 2013
    Eritrea’s human rights situation has not improved since the Council’s 2009 Universal Periodic Review. Torture, arbitrary detention, and severe restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and religious freedom remain routine. Elections have not been held since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, the constitution has never been implemented, and political parties are not allowed. There are no institutional constraints on President Isaias Afewerki, in power now for 22 years.
  • Qatar: Abolish Exit Visas for Migrant Workers
    May 30, 2013
    Qatar should immediately abolish its exit visa requirements, which expose migrant workers to the risk of exploitation and abuse. The exit visa system can prevent foreigners from leaving the country merely on the say-so of a current or former employer. The case of a French professional footballer who is unable to leave Qatar illustrates how the exit visa system can be used against migrant workers in disputes with their employers. Zahir Belounis, who played for the Al Jaish team, is pursuing a claim for unpaid wages in the Qatari courts. He told Human Rights Watch that his former employers have insisted that he drop his claim or they will not issue him the exit visa he must produce to leave Qatar.
  • North Korea: Activists Welcome Japan’s Support for Inquiry
    Feb 5, 2013

    The International Coalition to Stop Crimes against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK), consisting of over 40 leading human rights organizations and activists, today welcomes Japan’s strong position in favor of the establishment of a new United Nations commission of inquiry on serious human rights violations committed by the North Korean Government at home and abroad.

  • Eritrea: Mining Investors Risk Use of Forced Labor
    Jan 15, 2013
    International mining firms rushing to invest in Eritrea’s burgeoning minerals sector risk involvement in serious abuses unless they take strong preventive measures. The failure of the Vancouver-based company Nevsun Resources to ensure that forced labor would not be used during construction of its Eritrea mine, and its limited ability to deal with forced labor allegations when they arose, highlight the risk.
  • Singapore: Drop Charges Against Bus Strike Leaders
    Dec 5, 2012
    Singapore authorities should immediately drop charges against four migrant Chinese bus drivers who face trial on December 6, 2012, for leading a two-day work stoppage.
  • UAE: Report Highlights Need for Worker Protections
    Sep 27, 2012
    A report by an independent monitor underscores the need for companies involved in the United Arab Emirates’ Saadiyat Island project to ensure that their projects comply with international labor standards for migrant workers.
  • Domestic Workers Convention: Labor Rights Treaty to Take Effect
    Aug 6, 2012
    The Philippines’ ratification of the Domestic Workers Convention will bring the groundbreaking international treaty into legal force, promising better working conditions and key labor protections for millions of domestic workers. The convention takes effect one year after the second ratification.
  • Russia: As Olympics Launch, Sochi Abuses Loom
    Jul 17, 2012
    Russia’s preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi should be carried out with full respect for human rights, in particular for those engaged in or affected by Olympic construction.
  • Plight of Domestic Workers Still Forgotten in the Sex Abuse Debate
    Jun 28, 2012
  • Central Asia: Five Years of EU Engagement
    Jun 20, 2012
    The European Union’s (EU) effectiveness to promote rights improvements in Central Asia is hampered by its reticence to articulate clear expectations for reform and follow through with policy consequences when those expectations are not met.
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