Strasbourg, France – Today, the Strasbourg Policy Centre hosted a pivotal conference titled “Bahrain and Modern-Day Slavery – Can Europe Stop Slavery in the Middle East?” The event featured human rights advocates and policy experts, including Flavio Turrino, Gianni Baretta, and Pino Rosati, who addressed alarming concerns over forced labor, human trafficking, and migrant worker exploitation in Bahrain and the broader Gulf region.
The discussion shed light on the deteriorating human rights conditions in Bahrain, particularly the abuse of migrant workers under the kafala (sponsorship) system, which ties foreign employees to their employers, often leading to debt bondage, wage theft, and restrictions on mobility. Reports from international human rights organizations have long documented cases of forced labor, arbitrary detentions, suppression of free speech, and violent crackdowns on dissent in the country.
Speakers highlighted how European governments and institutions can play a role in pressuring Bahrain to reform its labor policies and uphold international human rights standards. Gianni Baretta emphasized that “European policymakers must take a firm stance by leveraging trade agreements and diplomatic channels to push for concrete labor protections in Bahrain.”
The discussion also touched on Bahrain’s broader human rights record, including its repression of civil liberties, the use of unfair trials, torture in detention centers, and restrictions on press freedom. The Bahraini government has been criticized for silencing opposition figures, revoking citizenships, and targeting human rights defenders.
In closing, Pino Rosati urged European stakeholders to take decisive action by conditioning trade and diplomatic relations on measurable human rights improvements. He stated, “It is time for Europe to go beyond rhetoric and implement real consequences for nations that violate fundamental human rights.”
The Strasbourg Policy Centre reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for justice, dignity, and human rights in Bahrain and across the Middle East. The conference concluded with a call to European institutions, human rights organizations, and civil society to take coordinated action against modern slavery and labor abuses in Bahrain.
