Welcome to Maryam Al-Khawaja's Website
Human Rights Activist
Consultant
Trainer
Speaker
Photo credit: Zuhal Kocan
About Me
I am a Bahraini Woman Human Rights Defender who works as a consultant and trainer on Human Rights.
I am a leading voice for human rights and political reform in Bahrain and the Gulf region. I have been influential in shaping official responses to human rights atrocities in Bahrain and the Gulf region by leading campaigns and engaging with prominent policymakers around the world.
I played an instrumental role in the pro-democracy protests in Bahrain’s Pearl Roundabout in February 2011. These protests triggered a government response of widespread extra judicial killings, arrests, and torture, which I documented extensively over social media. Due to my human rights work, I was subjected to assault, threats, defamation campaigns, imprisonment and an unfair trial. I was arrested on illegitimate charges in 2014 and sentenced in absentia to one year in prison. I currently have an outstanding arrest warrant and four pending cases, one of which could carry a life sentence.
I serve on the Boards of the International Service for Human Rights, Urgent Action Fund, CIVICUS and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy. I previously served as Co-Director at the Gulf Center for Human Rights and Acting President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.
I aim to offer my expertise and unique skillset to serve the missions of individuals and organizations seeking to secure accountability and human rights for all.
My Expertise
- Consulting: Specialties include government advocacy, internal restructuring, development of internal protocols, creation of multi-year organizational strategic and implementation plans, social media, and development of fundraising strategies.
- Speaking: I deliver speeches, lectures and participate in high-level panels on a variety of topics, including Business and Human Rights, Tech and Human Rights, United Nations bodies and mechanisms, Less-lethal weapons, Social media, Freedom of expression, Freedom of assembly and association, Women's rights, Civil society space, and immigration issues. I am adept at regional and country-specific analysis, and specialize in the MENA region, particularly Gulf countries.
- Advocacy: I am an experienced international human rights advocate, lobbying around the world on issues spanning from torture to the sale of surveillance technology. I have vast experience conducting meetings with government officials, including foreign ministers and members of parliament. I have testified at numerous platforms, and my advocacy has included extensive liaising with a variety of UN bodies in Geneva and New York.
- Trainings and Workshops: I have expertise in organizing and delivering trainings and workshops on a variety of topics, check out the dedicated page for more information.
- Documentation: I have taken part in several fact-finding missions (Turkey, Iraqi Kurdistan and the Syrian/Turkish border) as an expert in documenting human rights violations. My work on these missions resulted in reports subsequently used for advocacy.
- Litigation: I have led and am involved in OECD/litigation cases/campaigns pertaining to human rights. Some of these cases were related to torture, the sale of spyware and the building of prisons in undemocratic countries in which human rights defenders are imprisoned.
My Passions
As an activist, I am dedicated to finding new avenues of creating change and impact, based in feminist ethics and principles; and connecting our movements across borders.