Every time there is a report on human rights in Bahrain, despite all developments, it seems to be an adverse finding.
Someone is doing something wrong!
No matter what Bahrain does to demonstrate the changes made since events in 2011, openness, transparency in actions, “come see” access to its critics.
Let authorities simply change tactics.
Ignore the whining of critics, keep doing what they are doing, but focus on personally contacting their editors about the paucity of reporting, especially when their information gatherers are often outside Bahrain.
Reporting from Beirut or London, drawing of their jaundiced “contacts,” those venters of spleen, ignorance from afar.
Wallowing in “fake news,” because their long pre-ordained views, decrying the changes that have been made are labelled ”inconsequential”.
What they object to is the system of governance.
Favouring instead, the obnoxious “rules, methodology and tactics” of the black flagged mob instead.
And their views will never change.
They have a warped idea that they are so called “freedom fighters”.
The rest of us simply see them for what they are, “terrorist mouthpieces,” albeit with a pen or keyboard.
Literal “bomb throwers.”
And the so-called media experts from Amnesty and others simply lap up the “information, not wanting to believe anything suggesting the contrary, even when it is demonstrated to be true.
So instead of wasting time with the UN committee on human rights, Ambassadors should spend more time visiting the head of Amnesty, demanding to know why their people in the field are filing “rubbish” in their reports.
And demonstrate the realities by inviting them to visit Bahrain, themselves.
There are good positives to talk about.
For example, the recent agreement on workers’ rights, by “officials and NGOs” supporting an agreement on domestic workers, with hopes of parliamentary support to legislate it into effect.
According to a Filipino major trade union leader at the meeting, more countries in the Middle East are looking at reforms for the rights of domestic workers, their terms and employment conditions.
Bahrain won high praise for its positive attitude in enforcing labour rights for domestic workers.
Domestic workers were told, if they were unionised, collective rights would be preserved, employers taken to task by the union for any poor wages and conditions, which did not comply with their job offers and outlined duties.
There are 60,000 Filipino workers currently in Bahrain.
The ILO (International Labour Organisation) is also keeping a close eye on Bahrain, especially in the construction industry, where there are some specific complaints about overly lengthy, non-payment of wages.
The government is aware of these shortcomings and has moved promptly to advise the companies involved, that more is expected of them.
That the payment of such wages will be made or there will be penalties invoked, and multiple contracts reassessed.
A bold challenge indeed.
In an embassy I served in, other diplomats accused us of paying domestic staff “too much.”
Under our standards, it was a “fair wage.”
We didn’t change.
They (begrudgingly) did.