Bahrain Girl

Today, nearly 5 million Afghan children, including more than 2 million girls, are in school. Girls now talk about their future and about rebuilding their country. One little girl said, "I want to become a lawyer because I want to bring justice and freedom to Afghanistan, especially for women." ...

As they are making their voices heard, the women of Iraq are also experiencing the freedom that education brings. Because of the United States and our allies, more than 2,400 schools have been renovated in Iraq. Master teachers have trained more than 30,000 teachers. Two million girls are back in school, and they no longer fear that secret police are monitoring their studies. ... [Read More]

Marriage to Saudis

The following information has been prepared by our Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to assist United States citizens in understanding the cultural and legal differences they face when considering marriage to a Saudi citizen. The information was culled from interviews with Americans married to Saudis, most of whom were American women. While the majority of this document will address concerns specific to American women, American men may also want to consider these issues as well. All the Americans interviewed strongly urged prospective spouses of Saudi men to visit the Kingdom and meet the Saudi in-laws before ... [Read More]

Working for Women, Worldwide: The U.S. Commitment

USAID works to promote basic education for girls as well as boys in order to reduce poverty, improve health and social well-being, and sustain economic growth. USAID's education programs for girls target both the lack of access and the poor quality of resources that hinder girls' participation and achievement in school. This approach involves using multiple strategies to address barriers to girls' education, including engaging influential citizens and organizations within the public and private sectors to support girls' education and promoting "girl-friendly" national education policies. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

The dress code for the Saudi Arabian International School of Riyadh (SAISR) Elementary School requires girls to wear blouses or dresses with sleeves. Boys should wear shirts with sleeves and appropriate pants. Through grade 3, boys and girls may wear loose-fitting short pants to school, provided the pants extend at least to the knee. In junior high, girls should wear blouses or dresses with sleeves or loose-fitting pants and tops. Boys should wear shirts with sleeves and long pants. Boys and girls may only wear sweatpants or shorts for physical education classes. Supplies and Services SuppliesLast Updated:  10/22/2003 4:19 AM  ... [Read More]

Writers on America - Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State

I visit a wonderful school in Bahrain where a little girl writes me the best letter I've received in a long time. She says, "What is hard for you?" It takes me almost a whole day to answer her. ... [Read More]

State's Cheney Says U.S. Supports Democracy in Every Nation, Culture - US Department of State

Our enemies are offering a vision of the world in which women are no better than slaves or chattel; in which fathers and brothers can murder their female relatives for violating the family honor; in which little girls can't go to school, and can be forced to marry at 9 or 10 or 11.  The women of the Broader Middle East will not stand for this and are fighting to turn their nations' faces toward the future.  America is proud and honored to stand with them. ...

I am also really pleased to share this honor tonight with two women who are role models for little girls all around the world - Jeanette Wagner and Anne-Marie Slaughter. ... [Read More]

Bahrain

Bahrain is a monarchy which, in 2002 adopted a constitution that reinstated a legislative body with one elected chamber. The Al-Khalifa extended family has ruled the country since the late 18th century and continues to dominate all facets of society and government. The King, Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, governs the country with the assistance of his uncle, the Prime Minister; his son, the Crown Prince; and an appointed cabinet of ministers. The King chairs the Higher Judicial Council. Members of the Al-Khalifa family hold 9 out of 24 cabinet positions, including all "strategic ministries." The partially elected National Assembly consists of an elected Council of Representatives and an appointed Shura Council. However, the courts have ruled against the Government in the past. The National Action Charter provides that the King is the head of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The Constitution gives the elected Co ... [Read More]

Bahrain

The social status of children is shaped by tradition and religion to a greater extent than by civil law. Child abuse was rare, as was public discussion of it; the preference of the authorities was to leave such matters within the purview of the family or religious groups. One case that drew public attention was that of a 13-year old girl who was reportedly abused by members of her family and then disappeared. According to local media, the case received attention at the highest levels of the Government, but despite the Prime Minister's public charge to the police to find her, she remained missing at year's end. The authorities actively enforced the laws against prostitution, including child prostitution, procuring, and pimping. Violators were dealt with harshly and may be imprisoned, or, if a noncitizen, deported. In the past, the authorities reportedly returned children arrested for prostitution and other nonpolitical crimes to their families rather than prosecute them, especially for ... [Read More]

Bahrain

RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTSSection 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From: a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life There were no reports of arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life committed by the Government or its agents. On April 27, the High Civil Court ordered the Ministry of Interior to pay BD 40,000 ($106,100) to the family of the 21-year old Bahraini man killed in a demonstration in April 2002. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The Constitution prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. During protests on May 21, two civilians were injured by rubber bullets fired by the police. On October 28, rubber bullets or tear gas canisters fired by the police injured two protest ... [Read More]

V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G

The Peoples’ Republic of China is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation. A significant number of Chinese women and children are trafficked internally for forced marriage and forced labor. Chinese women are at times lured abroad with false promises of legitimate employment and then trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to destinations throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America, while Chinese men have been trafficked for forced labor to Europe, South America, and the Middle East. A large number of Chinese men and women are smuggled abroad at enormous personal financial cost and, upon arrival in the destination country, are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation or other forms of exploitative labor to repay their debts. They often face exploitative conditions that meet t ... [Read More]