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Indonesia Saudi Arabia: Implement Proposed Labor Reforms Government Should Immediately Abolish Sponsorship System Saudi Arabia should immediately implement its proposed reform to the kafala sponsorship system and extend labor protections to domestic workers, Human Rights Watch said today. Responding to the Saudi government's reaction to a recent report, "'As If I Am Not Human’: Abuses Against Asian Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia," author Nisha Varia said, “It’s a real shame when Saudis try to deflect attention from abuses against domestic workers by arguing that employers are the victims or focusing only on those women who have positive experiences.” July 21, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Saudi Arabia: Domestic Workers Face Harsh Abuses Key Reforms Stalled, Few Remedies for Slavery-Like Conditions Saudi Arabia should implement labor, immigration, and criminal justice reforms to protect domestic workers from serious human rights abuses that in some cases amount to slavery, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Employers often face no punishment for committing abuses including months or years of unpaid wages, forced confinement, and physical and sexual violence, while some domestic workers face imprisonment or lashings for spurious charges of theft, adultery, or "witchcraft." July 8, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version "As If I Am Not Human" Abuses against Asian Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia
HRW Index No.: 1-56432-351-X July 8, 2008 Report Also available in
Download PDF, 466 KB, 137 pgs Purchase online Read Press Release Indonesia: Reverse Ban on Ahmadiyah Sect Government Should Protect Religious Minority, Not Threaten Prison for Beliefs President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should reverse a decree that would permit criminal prosecutions of the Ahmadiyah community for their religious beliefs, Human Rights Watch said today. June 10, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Saudi Arabia: Nour Miyati Denied Justice for Torture Judge Ignores Evidence in Case of Extreme Abuse against Indonesian Domestic Worker An appeals court should overturn a Riyadh court’s decision to drop charges against the Saudi employer who abused Nour Miyati, an Indonesian domestic worker, so severely she required several surgeries, including amputation of her toes and fingers, Human Rights Watch said today. The judge awarded Nour Miyati 2,500 riyals as compensation, or approximately US$670, a small fraction of what such injuries would normally garner in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Labour Regulations Foreign domestic workers need rest, too By Emily Allen and Nisha Varia Published in The Straits Times Today as many of us celebrate May Day with a break from our jobs, others in Singapore are expected to work through the day. In fact, foreign domestic workers often work through all holidays. Far too many of them work every day of the week, every week of the year, without a single day of rest. May 1, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Indonesia: Scrap Proposed Religion Ban Government Should Protect Ahmadis, not Persecute Them The Indonesian government should reject proposals to ban the minority Ahmadiyah faith and not align itself with the extremists who have fomented violence against them, Human Rights Watch said today. April 23, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version UN: Mixed Results for New Review Process States Avoid Serious Discussion of Rights in Algeria, Tunisia The first session of the new country review mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council was undermined by inconsistencies and the timidity of some governments in reviewing others, Human Rights Watch said today. On April 18, 2008 the council concluded a two-week session in which it examined the records of 16 countries as part of the new Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. April 18, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Universal Periodic Review of Indonesia Human Rights Watch 's Submission to the Human Rights Council In 2006 Indonesia succeeded in securing membership of both the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Security Council. Indonesia also acceded to the ICCPR and the ICESCR. These are signs that Indonesia wants to be accepted as a rights-respecting member of the international community. However, the human rights situation in Papua and West Papua has shown there a clear gap between Indonesia’s international commitments and its rhetoric, and the reality on the ground. The remote Papua province is a region closed to outside observers. April 7, 2008 Written Statement Printer friendly version Human Rights Council Begins Universal Periodic Review Will Assess India, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and 12 Others The UN Human Rights Council will begin a new review process on April 7, 2008. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is the most innovative and ambitious instrument of the council and was set up to assess the human rights performance of all 192 UN member states over a four-year cycle. April 6, 2008 Memorandum Printer friendly version Indonesia: Free Peaceful Protesters in Papua Activists Face Charges for Nonviolent Expression The Indonesian government should order the immediate release of nine Papua activists arrested for displaying the Papuan Morning Star flag, Human Rights Watch said today. All charges against them should be dropped. March 19, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Letter to the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Urging the Organisation to Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, we urge the OIC to consider two amendments to the Convention in order to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and to make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications. March 11, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Justice for Suharto-Era Crimes Still Matters by Joseph Saunders Published in The FEER Forum Much of the commentary since Suharto’s death on Jan. 27 has focused on his economic legacy. Of late, triumphalist accounts seem to be eclipsing more nuanced assessments, as observers debate whether overall economic growth during his 32-year tenure overshadowed the nepotism and corruption that marred his rule. Suharto’s political and human rights legacy, wrongly pushed to the sidelines, is at least of equal importance in assessing his record and the challenges facing Indonesia today. February 14, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Indonesia: Suharto’s Death a Chance for Victims to Find Justice Government Should Investigate Crimes of Former Dictator’s Regime The death of former president Suharto at age 86 provides an opportunity to commemorate the many victims of his oppressive regime, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch said the Indonesian government should make a serious commitment to hold accountable the perpetrators of human rights abuses during his rule. January 27, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version UAE: Meetings Should Address Migrant Workers’ Rights When labor ministers from 22 Asian and Middle Eastern countries meet in Abu Dhabi this week to discuss Asian contract migrant workers, they should address widespread violations of migrant workers’ rights, Human Rights Watch said today. January 18, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to Governments in Asia and the Middle East on International Migrants' Day Migrants’ Groups Call for Key Reforms We are writing on December 18, 2007, International Migrants’ Day, to call upon you to implement key reforms to respect and uphold migrants’ rights. On January 21-22, 2008, the United Arab Emirates will host the latest round of the “Colombo Process,” a series of regional consultative processes focused on Asian contract migrant workers. We believe this meeting could provide an important stepping stone to establishing regional minimum standards regarding recruitment, employment, and protection of migrant workers. December 17, 2007 Letter Printer friendly version Asian Migrant Workers Abandoned to Abuse Migrants’ Groups Call for Key Reforms on International Migrants Day 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. December 17, 2007 Press Release Printer friendly version Letter to ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong The ASEAN Charter Human Rights Watch wrote a letter to ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong urging him and other ASEAN Foreign Ministers to establish specific deadlines for implementing a binding human rights mechanism as part of the new Charter. November 15, 2007 Letter Printer friendly version Saudi Arabia: Migrant Domestics Killed by Employers Brutal Beatings and Killings Symptomatic of Wider Abuse The killing of two Indonesian domestic workers by their employers in Saudi Arabia highlights the Saudi government’s ongoing failure to hold employers accountable for serious abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. The brutal beatings by these employers also left two other Indonesian domestic workers critically injured. August 17, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Indonesia: Bold Court Decision Good for Free Expression Release Prisoners Held Under Unconstitutional Laws The ruling by Indonesia’s constitutional court to declare unconstitutional a set of laws that criminalize free expression is a bold and welcome decision, Human Rights Watch said today. All prisoners currently serving sentences under these laws should be immediately released. July 19, 2007 Press Release Printer friendly version |
 
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