National Documentation Packages (NDPs) are lists of public documents that provide information on country conditions. Updates occur on a regular basis.
NDPs support the refugee determination process. They do not imply recognition of a particular territory's sovereignty or political status.
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Jurisprudential Guides Notes
Jurisprudential Guides Notes
On
July 28, 2022, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide:
-
Decision TC1 05038 – The proper interpretation of the ‘generalized risk’ exception to protection found at subparagraph 97(1)(b)(ii) of the Act, in claims for protection involving allegations of gang-targeting or other acts of criminality.
On
December 22, 2020, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision MB8-00025 – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses, in applying Article 1E of the Refugee Convention, whether members should consider allegations of risk in a country of residence if they conclude that a refugee claimant has the rights and obligations which are attached to the possession of nationality in that country.
On
July 6, 2018, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision TB7-19851 – Nigeria – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses internal flight alternatives in major cities in south and central Nigeria for claimants fleeing non-state actors.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 10, 2018.
On
July 20, 2017, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being
Jurisprudential Guides.
-
Decision TB7-01837 – Pakistan – Whether the treatment experienced by Ahmadis in Pakistan amounts to persecution, whether state protection is available and whether there is a viable internal flight alternative.
-
Decision MB6-01059/60 – India – Availability of an internal flight alternative in India for claimants from Punjab.
Revoked
-
Decision TB6-11632 – China – Analysis of the efficacy of the Chinese national computer network known as the Golden Shield Project and its impact on whether a person wanted by the authorities can exit China via an airport using a genuine passport.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 20, 2017.
Back
30 June 2017
BAHRAIN
List of Documents
1.
General Information and Maps
Source:
United Nations. Cartographic Section.
Date of Document:
January 2004
Accessed Date:
28 June 2017
Title:
Arabie saoudite – Bahreïn – Émirats arabes unis – Oman – Qatar –Yémen. L'Encyclopédie en ligne.
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
19 June 2017
Accessed Date:
27 June 2017
Title:
Bahrain. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
3 March 2017
Accessed Date:
6 March 2017
Title:
Bahrain. Amnesty International Report 2016/17: The State of the World's Human Rights.
Source:
Amnesty International
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain. World Report 2017: Events of 2016.
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
January 2017
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain. Freedom in the World 2017.
Accessed Date:
27 June 2017
Title:
Annual Report: Bahrain 2016. A Series of Repressive Attacks against Rights and Human Rights Defenders.
Source:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Date of Document:
February 2017
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain's Third Cycle UPR: A Record of Repression
Source:
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain et al
Date of Document:
January 2017
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Charting the Seas of Abuse. Analysis of the United Special Procedure Communications to the Kingdom of Bahrain, 2011-2016.
Source:
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain et al
Page Numbers:
1-10, 22-24, 33-35, 41-42, 48-50, 53-57
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
3.
Identification Documents and Citizenship
Title:
The Citizenship of Bahrain (amended 1981)
Accessed Date:
28 June 2017
Title:
Law No (21) for Year 2014. Amending certain provisions of the Bahraini Citizenship Act.
Date of Document:
24 July 2014
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Requirements and procedures for a foreigner to sponsor themselves for a residency permit, including procedures for renewal and cancellation; rights available to a foreigner with a self-sponsored residency permit, including cross-border mobility...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
15 July 2014
Accessed Date:
25 June 2015
Keywords:
labour; nationality; social services
Title:
Stateless in Bahrain
Source:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Date of Document:
24 September 2014
Accessed Date:
19 May 2016
Keywords:
arbitrary arrest and detention; children; citizenship; freedom of movement; gender equality; human rights activists; identity documents; legal system; legislation; marriage; nationality; penal system; political activities; political prisoners; statistics
4.
Political Activities and Organizations
Title:
Bahrain. Majlis Al-Nuwab (Council of Representatives).
Source:
Inter-Parliamentary Union. Parline.
Date of Document:
20 March 2015
Accessed Date:
25 June 2015
Keywords:
citizenship; legislation; political organizations
Title:
I. Political Transformation. Bertelsmann Stiftung, BTI 2016: Bahrain Country Report.
Source:
Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung
Accessed Date:
28 June 2017
Title:
Bahrain. Imprisonment, Torture and Statelessness: The Darkening Reality of Human Rights Defenders in Bahrain.
Source:
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Date of Document:
June 2015
Page Numbers:
1-10; 36-38
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
5.
Gender, Domestic Violence and Children
Title:
Concluding observations on the third periodic report of Bahrain
Source:
United Nations. Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Date of Document:
10 March 2014
Accessed Date:
19 June 2014
Keywords:
citizenship; domestic violence; ethnic and national groups; family law; freedom of assembly; freedom of expression; gender equality; gender-based violence; honour crimes; human rights activists; institutional efficacy; judicial efficacy; labour; legal system; legislation; marriage; nationality; police efficacy; police/security forces; political activities; political opposition; religion; sexual violence; social services; trafficking in persons
Title:
The Legal Status of Women in Bahrain
Source:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Date of Document:
8 March 2017
Accessed Date:
5 June 2017
Title:
Situation of sexual minorities, including societal attitudes and treatment by authorities (2011-July 2016)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
21 July 2016
Accessed Date:
26 June 2017
7.
Criminality and Corruption
Title:
Bahrain (Tier 2). Trafficking in Persons Report 2017.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
June 2017
Accessed Date:
28 June 2017
Title:
Bahrain. 2017 OSAC Crime and Safety Report.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
13 February 2017
Accessed Date:
27 June 2017
8.
Military Service - (No items in this section)
9.
Judiciary, Legal and Penal Systems
Title:
Window-Dressing or Pioneers of Change? An Assessment of Bahrain's Human Rights Oversight Bodies.
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
21 November 2016
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Behind the Rhetoric: Human Rights in Bahrain Continue Unabated
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
16 April 2015
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
“The Blood of People Who Don't Cooperate”. Continuing Torture and Mistreatment of Detainees in Bahrain.
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
22 November 2015
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Inside Jau. Government Brutality in Bahrain's Central Prison.
Source:
Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy et al
Date of Document:
May 2015
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Suppressing Dissent and Sustaining Impunity. Torture in Bahrain 2015-2016.
Source:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Date of Document:
10 April 2017
Accessed Date:
27 June 2017
Title:
Concluding observations on the second and third periodic reports of Bahrain
Source:
United Nations. Committee against Torture.
Date of Document:
29 May 2017
Accessed Date:
27 June 2017
10.
Police and Security Forces
Title:
Information on security services, including whether security, religious or other character screenings are completed before foreign nationals are hired or promoted; whether foreigners working for security services are granted citizenship based on...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
7 September 2016
Accessed Date:
26 June 2017
Title:
Digital Rights Derailed in Bahrain
Source:
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
Accessed Date:
10 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain. Freedom of the Press 2016.
Accessed Date:
10 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain. Freedom on the Net 2016.
Accessed Date:
10 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain. International Religious Freedom Report for 2015.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
10 August 2016
Accessed Date:
10 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Annual Report 2017.
Source:
United States. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Date of Document:
April 2017
Accessed Date:
27 June 2017
Title:
Apart in Their Own Land: Government Discrimination against Shia in Bahrain. Volume I – Violence, Political Disclusion, and Attacks on the Shia Religious Establishment.
Source:
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain et al
Date of Document:
April 2015
Accessed Date:
10 May 2017
Title:
Apart in Their Own Land: Government Discrimination against Shia in Bahrain. Volume II – Economic Disclusion, Cultural Marginalization, and Media Discrimination.
Source:
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain et al
Date of Document:
September 2015
Accessed Date:
10 May 2017
13.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Race - (No items in this section)
14.
Exit/Entry and Freedom of Movement - (No items in this section)
15.
Labour, Employment and Unions - (No items in this section)
16.
Other - (No items in this section)
The following changes have been made to the previous package dated 31 March 2017:
Title:
Bahrain. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
17 June 2016
URL:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ba.html
Accessed Date:
21 June 2016
Keywords:
country overview; map; statistics
Title:
Bahrain. Amnesty International Annual Report 2015/16: The State of the World's Human Rights.
Source:
Amnesty International
URL:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/bahrain/report-bahrain/
Accessed Date:
21 June 2016
Keywords:
arbitrary arrest and detention; armed groups; citizenship; conflict; domestic violence; election; extralegal executions/killings; extremist/terrorist organizations; freedom of assembly; freedom of expression; freedom of the press; human rights activists; institutional efficacy; judicial efficacy; legal system; legislation; minorities; penal system; police/security forces; police/security forces complaints; political activities; political opposition; political organizations; political prisoners; religion; sexual violence; statistics; torture
Title:
Bahrain. World Report 2016: Events of 2015.
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
January 2016
URL:
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2016/country-chapters/bahrain
Accessed Date:
21 June 2016
Keywords:
arbitrary arrest and detention; citizenship; domestic violence; family law; freedom of assembly; freedom of expression; gender equality; human rights activists; institutional efficacy; Internet; judicial efficacy; labour; legal system; legislation; minorities; penal system; police/security forces; police/security forces complaints; political activities; political opposition; political organizations; political prisoners; religion; sexual minorities; sexual violence; statistics; torture
Title:
Bahrain. Freedom in the World 2015.
URL:
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2015/bahrain
Accessed Date:
25 June 2015
Keywords:
arbitrary arrest and detention; citizenship; corruption; election; ethnic and national groups; extremist/terrorist organizations; freedom of assembly; freedom of expression; freedom of movement; freedom of the press; gender equality; government corruption; human rights activists; institutional efficacy; judicial efficacy; labour; legislation; minorities; penal system; police/security forces; police/security forces complaints; political activities; political opposition; political organizations; political prisoners; religion; sexual minorities; statistics; torture
Title:
Bahrain (Tier 2). Trafficking in Persons Report 2015.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
July 2015
URL:
http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2015/243391.htm
Accessed Date:
12 May 2016
Keywords:
labour; legislation; trafficking in persons
Title:
Bahrain. Freedom of the Press 2015.
URL:
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2015/bahrain
Accessed Date:
21 June 2016
Keywords:
arbitrary arrest and detention; freedom of expression; freedom of the press; human rights activists; Internet; legal system; legislation; penal system; police/security forces; political activities; religion; state surveillance; torture
Title:
Bahrain. Freedom on the Net 2015.
URL:
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2015/bahrain
Accessed Date:
12 May 2016
Keywords:
freedom of expression; human rights activists; Internet; legislation; state surveillance; torture
Title:
Bahrain. International Religious Freedom Report for 2014.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
14 October 2015
URL:
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2014&dlid=238450
Accessed Date:
12 May 2016
Keywords:
arbitrary arrest and detention; citizenship; ethnic and national groups; extremist/terrorist organizations; family law; freedom of assembly; freedom of expression; freedom of the press; gender equality; human rights activists; labour; legal system; legislation; marriage; minorities; penal system; police/security forces; political activities; political opposition; political organizations; political prisoners; religion; social services; state surveillance; statistics; torture
Title:
HM the King ratifies law amending some provisions of the Citizenship Law
Source:
Bahrain News Agency
Date of Document:
7 July 2014
URL:
http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/625156
Accessed Date:
25 June 2015
Keywords:
citizenship; legislation
Title:
Discrimination Against Women In Bahraini Society & Legislation
Source:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Date of Document:
10 February 2014
URL:
http://www.bahrainrights.org/sites/default/files/Discrimination%20Against%20Women.pdf
Accessed Date:
19 June 2014
Keywords:
children; domestic violence; family law; gender equality; gender-based violence; human rights activists; labour; legal system; legislation; marriage; penal system; sexual violence; social services; statistics; torture
Title:
Bahrain: No Internet spring. Enemies of the Internet 2014.
Source:
Reporters Without Borders
Date of Document:
12 March 2014
URL:
http://12mars.rsf.org/2014-en/2014/03/11/bahrain-no-internet-spring/
Accessed Date:
19 June 2014
Keywords:
arbitrary arrest and detention; freedom of expression; human rights activists; Internet; legal system; legislation; penal system; police/security forces; political opposition; state surveillance; torture
Title:
Annual Report: Bahrain 2016. A Series of Repressive Attacks against Rights and Human Rights Defenders.
Source:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Date of Document:
February 2017
URL:
http://bahrainrights.org/sites/default/files/BCHR_AnnualReport_Web-REV-1.pdf
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain's Third Cycle UPR: A Record of Repression
Source:
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain et al
Date of Document:
January 2017
URL:
http://bahrainrights.org/sites/default/files/UPR%20Report.pdf
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Charting the Seas of Abuse. Analysis of the United Special Procedure Communications to the Kingdom of Bahrain, 2011-2016.
Source:
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain et al
Page Numbers:
1-10, 22-24, 33-35, 41-42, 48-50, 53-57
URL:
http://www.adhrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ADHRB_Charting_Web.pdf
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Law No (21) for Year 2014. Amending certain provisions of the Bahraini Citizenship Act.
Date of Document:
24 July 2014
URL:
http://www.refworld.org/docid/58dcfdae4.html
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain. Imprisonment, Torture and Statelessness: The Darkening Reality of Human Rights Defenders in Bahrain.
Source:
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Date of Document:
June 2015
Page Numbers:
1-10; 36-38
URL:
https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/bahrain_obs_eng_22.6.2015_pdf_3_web.pdf
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
The Legal Status of Women in Bahrain
Source:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Date of Document:
8 March 2017
URL:
http://bahrainrights.org/en/node/8574
Accessed Date:
5 June 2017
Title:
Situation of sexual minorities, including societal attitudes and treatment by authorities (2011-July 2016)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
21 July 2016
URL:
http://irb-cisr.gc.ca/Eng/ResRec/RirRdi/Pages/index.aspx?doc=456609
Accessed Date:
26 June 2017
Title:
Bahrain. 2017 OSAC Crime and Safety Report.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
13 February 2017
URL:
https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=21245
Accessed Date:
27 June 2017
Title:
Window-Dressing or Pioneers of Change? An Assessment of Bahrain's Human Rights Oversight Bodies.
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
21 November 2016
URL:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde11/5080/2016/en/
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Behind the Rhetoric: Human Rights in Bahrain Continue Unabated
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
16 April 2015
URL:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde11/1396/2015/en/
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
“The Blood of People Who Don't Cooperate”. Continuing Torture and Mistreatment of Detainees in Bahrain.
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
22 November 2015
URL:
https://www.hrw.org/report/2015/11/22/blood-people-who-dont-cooperate/continuing-torture-and-mistreatment-detainees
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Inside Jau. Government Brutality in Bahrain's Central Prison.
Source:
Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy et al
Date of Document:
May 2015
URL:
http://birdbh.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Inside-Jau.pdf
Accessed Date:
9 May 2017
Title:
Suppressing Dissent and Sustaining Impunity. Torture in Bahrain 2015-2016.
Source:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Date of Document:
10 April 2017
URL:
http://bahrainrights.org/en/node/8691
Accessed Date:
27 June 2017
Title:
Concluding observations on the second and third periodic reports of Bahrain
Source:
United Nations. Committee against Torture.
Date of Document:
29 May 2017
URL:
http://undocs.org/en/CAT/C/BHR/CO/2-3
Accessed Date:
27 June 2017
Title:
Information on security services, including whether security, religious or other character screenings are completed before foreign nationals are hired or promoted; whether foreigners working for security services are granted citizenship based on...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
7 September 2016
URL:
http://irb-cisr.gc.ca/Eng/ResRec/RirRdi/Pages/index.aspx?doc=456670
Accessed Date:
26 June 2017
Title:
Digital Rights Derailed in Bahrain
Source:
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
URL:
http://bahrainrights.org/en/node/8111
Accessed Date:
10 May 2017
Title:
Bahrain. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Annual Report 2017.
Source:
United States. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Date of Document:
April 2017
URL:
http://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2017.USCIRFAnnualReport.pdf
Accessed Date:
27 June 2017
Title:
Apart in Their Own Land: Government Discrimination against Shia in Bahrain. Volume I – Violence, Political Disclusion, and Attacks on the Shia Religious Establishment.
Source:
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain et al
Date of Document:
April 2015
URL:
http://www.adhrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ADHRB_Apart-in-Their-Own-Land_web1.pdf
Accessed Date:
10 May 2017
Title:
Apart in Their Own Land: Government Discrimination against Shia in Bahrain. Volume II – Economic Disclusion, Cultural Marginalization, and Media Discrimination.
Source:
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain et al
Date of Document:
September 2015
URL:
http://www.adhrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ADHRB_ApartLand_Vol2_Web.pdf
Accessed Date:
10 May 2017
Disclaimer
National Documentation Packages (NDPs) include country-of-origin information that is publicly accessible at the time of publication and available within time constraints. While the Research Directorate strives to maintain the
NDP with current information, the research is not exhaustive and country conditions can change rapidly. Members of the public are invited to
suggest documents they feel are relevant to the
NDP.
NDPs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. The assessment and weight to be given to the information in the
NDPs are the responsibility of independent
IRB members (decision-makers) after considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.
All sources are fully cited, including a hyperlink, to facilitate the location of the information. The
IRB will attempt to ensure that these links are maintained for the most recent
NDP. It cannot guarantee or be responsible for:
- the functionality of links to external sources,
- the content accessed by these links,
- the availability of external content in both English and French,
- any other part of a third party website.
The information presented in
NDPs solely reflects the views and perspectives of the sources cited and does not necessarily reflect the position of the
IRB or the Government of Canada.