NEW CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS

May 1, 2005 (Gulf Daily news) Women's and children's rights in Bahrain will be the main focus of the new Sarah Campaign of the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS). To mark Labour Day and to further increase awareness and deal with issues concerning injustice towards women and children, the campaign will be launched today at 4pm at the Philippine Embassy, Zinj.

The event is being held under the patronage of Al Doy Trade Union Rights Centre, which is part of the BHRWS.

Named after the two-year-old daughter of Filipina Lecita Flores, the Sarah Campaign will also "bring out issues of torture and violence against women and labour concerns", said BHRWS member Huda Nonoo yesterday.

The society came up with the campaign after being approached by Ms Flores last month for assistance in her plight to get her daughter back from her Bahraini ex-husband.

She was told last month by immigration authorities to leave Bahrain by Tuesday after an application to extend her visa was turned down.

Highly distressed by the news, Ms Flores was put under suicide watch at the Philippine Embassy shelter, where she has been staying since November last year.

But with the help of the BHRWS and Interior Ministry Under-Secretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Ms Flores' expired tourist visa to Bahrain was extended to a further three months last week.

The extension ensures that she will be in the kingdom to continue fighting for custody of Sarah in Bahrain's courts. The BHRWS has claimed responsibility of Ms Flores during her stay in the kingdom and throughout her court battle with her Bahraini ex-husband.

She has been fighting to get her daughter back since April last year and has not seen her since January.

She and her Bahraini husband of seven years were living in Kuwait when he left for Bahrain with Sarah, leaving Ms Flores behind. He later told her from Bahrain that he had divorced her and that he was keeping Sarah.

"Sarah Campaign is being launched not only for Lecita Flores and Sarah, but for all women in Bahrain who are being treated unfairly.

We will also remember others who have suffered injustice, including our sister Fatima Tawfiq Ibrahim Mohammed," said Ms Nonoo, recalling the case of 11-year-old Bahraini Fatima, who disappeared in February 2002 and is still missing to this day.

Hundreds of red (Sarah's favourite colour) balloons, posters and flyers will be distributed at the launch today and in the weeks to come as part of the campaign.

About 100 people, including VIPs and members of non-governmental organisations, are expected to attend.

From: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=110787&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28042