Human Trafficking in [Bahrain] [other countries]
Street Children in [Bahrain] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Bahrain] [other countries]
 

Prevalence, Abuse & Exploitation of Street Children

Kingdom of Bahrain [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

The Kingdom of Bahrain [map], an archipelago located in the Persian Gulf, consists of two main islands, Bahrain and Al Muharraq, connected by a causeway. The capital and chief port is Al Manamah, on Bahrain. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems. In September 2004 Bahrain signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States - the first such agreement undertaken by a Gulf state.

CAUTION:  The following links and accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Bahrain. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false.  No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

Quick Search for Missing Children - Select Gender, Country (Bahrain), and Years Missing

UNICEF - The Big Picture

U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs

INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - The net primary school attendance rate from 1999-2002 was 85 percent for boys and 84.0 percent for girls.

CHILD LABOR LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT - The Labor Law of 1976 sets the minimum age for employment at 14 years. Under the Labor Law, juveniles (ages 14 to 16 years) may not be employed in hazardous conditions, at night, or for more than 6 hours per day. The Ministry of Labor has inspectors to enforce legislation in the industrial sector, and the U.S. Department of State reported that such inspections are effective.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

CHILDREN - Children born to Bahraini mothers and non-citizen fathers are not entitled to citizenship. The Bahrain Women's Society reported in June that there are approximately 1,800 children of Bahraini women who reside in the country but do not have citizenship. These children are ineligible for certain educational and healthcare benefits and other rights of citizens.

Public education for citizen children below the age of 15 is free

Child beggars thrive on Muslim holy season in Gulf states

According to a study by the Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh published in the Saudi daily Okaz, more than 80,000 "street children" can be found at any one time in the six oil-rich Gulf Arab monarchies -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Islamic Clerics Authorize Sex With Infants

"We have a problem with family planning. We have no family planning in Bahrain. The Shiites in Bahrain have marriages for the purpose of mut'ah [pleasure]. They bring multitudes of children into the world, without thinking, who grow up in the streets.

Education Reform in Bahrain

COMPULSORY SCHOOLING - The new legislation on education passed by the Consultative Council will make schooling compulsory for all children. Although it is highly unusual for school age children in Bahrain not to attend school, only now will the courts have the power to impose fines on those parents whose children are not at school. Parents whose children do not attend school for more than ten days each academic year risk prosecution.

Committee Concludes Review Of Children’s Rights

An analytical study of the situation of children in Bahrain had been undertaken to identify remaining gaps in their protection, she said.  As a result of this study, a Council had been established to develop a strategy for the promotion and protection of children’s rights.  Bahrain was also striving to improve the educational sector to strengthen the country’s human resources.  Much work had been undertaken by the Ministry of Education, including the setting up of day-care projects and assistance to families with limited resources.

Death in custody, arbitrary arrests and unfair trials of children

Although most of the children detained last year and recently have been freed, many more are still being arrested at the time of writing this report, taken away in house raids, peaceful demonstrations or after clashes with security forces. In some cases, security forces targeted children to hold them hostage until relatives sought by police turned themselves in. The numbers of detainees changes daily but it is believed that at any one time, about 60 children may be held without access to legal assistance or family.

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Human Trafficking in [Bahrain] [other countries]
Street Children in [Bahrain] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Bahrain] [other countries]