UMAA is working alongside members of Congressional offices, leaders of DC-based human rights organizations, and NGOs, faith leaders, and community members to actively advocate for human rights in Bahrain. This section serves to regularly update you on UMAA’s advocacy work regarding Bahrain.
Current Objectives
- Immediate and unconditional release of all Bahraini political prisoners, including medical professionals, faith leaders, academics, and other peaceful pro-democratic protestors.
- Recognition of the rights of the Bahraini people to protest, have freedom of speech, and the right to peacefully assembly.
- Initiation of meaningful political reform that enfranchises the country’s majority and provides for representative government.
- Press for substantive dialogue with leaders of the opposition.
- Accountability for the torture and killings of protestors through an independent international commission, not just the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry.
Ongoing Projects
- Organize meetings and follow-ups with Congressional leaders to advocate for human rights in Bahrain through Congressional hearings, joint letters, public statements, and legislation such as H.J. Res 80 and S.J. Res 28.
- Collaborate with human rights organizations and other relevant NGOs based in DC to gain Congressional support for the objectives mentioned above. UMAA is a member of an informal coalition of DC-based NGOs working on human rights in Bahrain, organized by the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED).
- Regularly update members of UMAA on the situation in Bahrain through Weekly News Roundup emails.
- Reach out to the media through Letters to the Editor and other forms of writings to further the cause of the pro-democratic Bahrainis.
Feel free to reach us at advocacy@umaamerica.net for any further inquiries.
