Geneva – The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) hosted a side event entitled “SEE THEIR STRUGGLE, REALISE THEIR RIGHTS: Human Rights Defenders including journalists at Imminent Risk in the Gulf Region and Neighbouring Countries” during the 34^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on 22 March 2017. The event was held in co-operation with CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) and the Omani Centre for Human Rights (OCHR).

Antoine Madelin, International Advocacy Director at FIDH, who moderated the side event, reviewed the general human rights situation across the Gulf region and the neighboring countries. He mentioned the recent arrest of prominent human rights defender and blogger Ahmed Mansoor in the United Arab Emirates.

Khalid Ibrahim, GCHR Executive Director, highlighted some specific case of human rights defenders such as the cases of Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Samar Badawi, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Nabeel Rajab, Saed Jadad and others. Also he talked about some popular trends in the region such as travel bans, reprisals and the lack of civic space. These cases and trends are among those covered in GCHR’s Annual Report, “See Their Struggle, Realise Their Rights”, released this month. Click here to download the report.

Dr. Hala Al-Doseri, a prominent woman human rights defender from Saudi Arabia, talked in a video recording about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia and in particular the Campaign to End Guardian System for Women in addition to harassment against them. Click here for the video.

Then Nabhan Al-Hanashi, Head of the OCHR, talked about the massive violations taking place in Oman including the imprisonment of three “Azamn” newspaper journalists and writer Abdullah Habib, and gave his views about women’s nationality rights besides some articles from Oman’s laws which constitute human rights violations.

Sarah Brooks, Programme Manager at ISHR, highlighted ways that businesses have been implicated in violations in the region, as well as how international tools, such as the UN Guiding Principles and the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, can be used to encourage businesses to protect human rights defenders and fundamental freedoms.

The side event, which was well attended, then concluded with a round of questions and answers.