Taking Action to End Violence against Women

Migrant Forum in Asia’s Statement for International Women’s Day

8 March 2013

This day, International Women’s Day, is dedicated to Action to End Violence against Women, and Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) takes this occasion to highlight its continued stance in advocating social justice for migrant women, migrant workers and members of their families.

Milestones gained to protect and promote the rights of women migrant workers are reflected in international human rights and labor rights treaties such as the CEDAW, CMW and ILO C189, and in national laws that aim to ensure women’s rights. However, we are currently facing a moment where barriers to fully implementing these laws and accessing justice for rights violations endanger the empowerment and human dignity of women migrant workers.

These barriers to women migrant workers’ rights include violence and discrimination because of their gender, nationality and status as workers. Such violence and discrimination do not and should not have a place in this day and age unless countries and societies allow them to persist.

The commitment to take action to end violence against women is seen in processes like the ongoing meetings of the international community at the UN-led Commission on the Status of Women in New York. This is an opportune time for States and relevant stakeholders to make the critical step to affect real, positive change on the lives of women who are still living under the threat of violence.

MFA calls on States to:

• Adhere to their commitments to protect and promote the rights of women, including migrant women by ratifying and properly implementing the core human rights treaties particularly the CEDAW and Migrant Workers Convention
• Ratify ILO Convention No. 189: Decent Work for Domestic Workers – recognizing the rights of domestic workers, including migrant domestic workers
• Stop the criminalization and detention of undocumented or irregular migrant workers and instead uphold and protect their basic rights

MFA is a regional network of non-governmental organizations, associations and trade unions of migrant workers, and individual advocates in Asia that are committed to protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of migrant workers. It is guided by a vision of an alternative work order based on respect for human rights and dignity, social justice, and gender equity, particularly for migrant workers.