Millions of Domestic Workers Lack Adequate Legal Protection
Governments in the Middle East should act quickly in 2009 to fulfil long standing promises to protect migrant women’s rights, said Human Rights Watch today, ahead of December 18, 2008, International Migrants’ Day. A number of governments have promised major reforms in the response to widespread and egregious [...]

Tags: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

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Tens of thousands of domestic workers in Jordan live in appalling conditions with many forced to work up to 19 hours per day and denied their salary. Amnesty International is urging the Jordanian authorities to ensure that the current review of employment regulations leads to a drastic improvement in their working conditions.
Jordan has some 40,000 [...]

Tags: Jordan

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Risk of Torture Too Serious to Permit Abu Qatada’s Return
The British government should drop its efforts to deport a Jordanian terrorism suspect who risks torture and an unfair trial if returned to Jordan, Human Rights Watch said today. The Jordanian government’s promises of humane treatment and a fair trial on return cannot be trusted, Human [...]

Tags: Jordan, UK

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Reforms Fail to Tackle Abuse, Impunity Persists
Jordan should end routine and widespread torture in its prisons, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Human Rights Watch called on the government to overhaul mechanisms for investigating, disciplining and prosecuting abusers, and in particular to transfer prosecutor’s investigations into prison abuse from police to [...]

Tags: Jordan

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US, EU Should Condition Aid on Kingdom’s Rights Record
Prime Minister Nader Dahabi should withdraw two new draft laws on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and public assembly from consideration by parliament, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the prime minister. The draft law on NGOs would further expand the government’s wide control over establishing, [...]

Tags: Jordan

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Police Investigation Ignores Evidence, Intimidates Witnesses
King Abdullah should order an independent investigation into the events surrounding the deaths on April 14 of three prisoners at al-Muwaqqar prison east of Amman, Human Rights Watch said today. Despite ample evidence of misconduct, and potentially criminal acts by prison officials, police authorities told Human Rights Watch that their [...]

Tags: Jordan

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