The Gulf Region (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman)

Bridging the Gulf Civil Society Conference in Brussels, March 2009

 On 1-3 March 2009, IPHR helped organize a conference for Bridging the Gulf - a Foundation for Human Security, in Brussels. A Netherlands-based NGO aimed at empowering civil societies in the Gulf region, Bridging the Gulf invited Gulf civil society activists to Brussels to follow up on decisions made in the first civil society meeting in October 2008, to continue advocacy with the EU with regard to developments in the Gulf region, and to discuss the organization's strategies and future activities. The participants also briefed the Working Group for the Gulf Region of EU Member States, European Council and European Commission officials on civil society issues in general and on current human rights topics such as freedom of expression and religion and women's rights. They also met with members of the European Parliament to discuss issues of mutual interest.

The conference report is available as PDF here. 

The following reports, which were distributed during advocacy meetings in Brussels, are attached to the conference report:

• Jafar Al-Shayeb: "Overview on Human Rights Situation in GCC States, A Statement presented to European Union Presidency, Working Group for the Gulf Region of EU Member States, European Council and European Commission Officials". 2 March 2009

• Jafar Al-Shayeb "Over the Recent Events in Madinah, Qatif, Saudi Arabia,  February 25^th, 2009". 

• Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken, "Freedom of Expression and the Press in the GCC States. A Statement Presented to the European Union Presidency, Working Group for the Gulf Region of EU Member States, European Council and European Commission Officials." 2 March 2009

• Presentation by Dr. Wajeeha Al-Baharna: "Recent Gains and New Opportunities for Women's Rights in the Arab Gulf: 2004-2008"

Bridging the Gulf Conference in Brussels and The Hague, October 2008 

In early October, International Partnership for Human Rights organised a visit to Brussels for a delegation of civil society representatives from the Gulf region. The visit was part of a programme developed by the Dutch NGO "Bridging the Gulf" and included a conference covering issues such as the European Union and human rights; the Universal Periodic Review of the U.N.; the question of the establishment of a Human Rights Centre for the Gulf region; and discussions on the human rights situation in the Gulf states.

Meetings were organised with European Commission and European Council officials in charge of the Gulf region and of human rights,  with six members states' Permanent Representations to the EU, and with representatives of ministries. The Gulf delegation also met with Members of the European Parliament (MEP) and roundtable meetings were organised with major NGOs such as the International Crisis Group (ICG), Open Society Institute (OSI), Frontline, FIDH, Amnesty International (AI) and Crisis Action.

A total of eleven guests from  Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates took part in the programme. After Brussels, they continued to The Hague, where "Bridging the Gulf" had organised meetings in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the International Court of Justice.

A follow-up conference is planned to take place in 2009.

The conference report is available as Word here.