Migrant Forum in Asia Homepage

MFA as a regional network of non-government organizations (NGOs), associations and trade unions of migrant workers and individual advocates features one member organization every month so that visitors of the MFA website will get to know more about the programs and activities of the members at the local and national levels.

'Unlad' is to develop, progress, or prosper. 'Kabayan' are fellow Filipinos abroad. Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation is a social entrepreneurship NGO linking migration to community development in the homeland.

Established in 1996, Unlad Kabayan pioneered the innovative approach of harnessing migrant workers' resources to bear on local economy development. By the end of 2000, we were consolidating experiences and lessons. More...

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MFA UPDATES

MFA Statement

MFA Calls for Release of 100 Unlawfully Arrested Migrant Workers in Korea

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Manila. I hope all is well with you.

I am writing to forward to you the MFA statement concerning the recent arrests of migrant workers in Namyangju City, Gyounggi-Do, Korea. Korean immigration and police raided the Masok Factory Complex and force their way into migrant homes in the surrounding areas. MFA sources have reported that at least 100 migrant workers were indiscriminately arrested without any attempt by police to determine their immigration status... More

On CEDAW

CEDAW General Recommendation on Women Migrant Workers

Dear Friends,

Greetings from the Secretariat. I hope all is well with you.

We are pleased to inform you that on 5 November 2008 the Committee for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) approved the General Recommendation 26 (GR 26) on Women Migrant Workers. The GR 26 aims to highlight the grave abuses and acts of discrimination that women migrants face, and to clarify the standards set out in the Convention that are relevant to these abuses... More

Final Declaration on GFMD

Joint Civil Society Declaration on Migration, Development and Human Rights
Submitted to GFMD-Manila, October 2008

As governments from all over the world meet in Manila to discuss migration and development policies, we call for human rights to be at the centre of debates. States have the obligation and responsibility to protect the rights of all human beings, including all migrant persons and migrant workers. We call upon governments to demonstrate their commitment... More

Peoples' Global Action Day of Convergence!!!

Dear Friends,

500 representatives from Global migrants groups and trade unions converged at the Rajah Sulayman Park for a symbolic march to the new PGA venue, the Malate Catholic School. 25th of October 2008 marked the day when members of global CSOs, trade unions, mgirant organizations converged after a series of self organized activities on migration development. They all marched to Korean drumbeats, chanting slogans like: "Migrants Rights are Human Rights!", "EU Directiba ibasura!" (Throw EU return directive to the garbage!) and waving banners stating their calls for the protection of migrants in different languages... More

Please click here for more Photos of the event

Migration and Development

The 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) will be held on 27-30 October 2008 in Manila, Philippines. The GFMD is a government-led initiative that is open to all 192 United Nations Member States. It is not a decision-making or policymaking body. It is a voluntary process, that wants to address issues related to migration and development in a manner that goes beyond mere analysis. More...

COUNTRY UPDATES

Bangladesh/West Asia

Dhaka in talks with Kuwait to end labour row

Against the backdrop of fresh labour unrest in Kuwait, authorities have started negotiations in Dhaka and Kuwait to resolve the problem and get the agitating workers back to job, officials said. Media reports said that the police resorted to baton charge and used water cannon on Monday to disperse several hundred workers, including Bangladeshis, who took to the street in the Kuwait City demanding a living wage. More...

Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait on strike for better pay

Hundreds of workers, mainly Bangladeshis, have gone on strike in Kuwait, seeking better pay amid soaring prices and sparking calls by deputies to improve working conditions for thousands of expatriates. The state news agency KUNA said Kuwaiti officials met Bangladesh embassy officials on Sunday to discuss the workers' problems. More...

International Instruments on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Regulation of Labour Migration

Status as of 14 November 2008:

Migrant Workers Convention

Ratification of State Parties: 40
Non-ratified signatories: 14

Congo has ratified the Migrant Workers Convention on 29 September 2008.

ILO Convention 97

46 ratifications

ILO Convention 143

22 ratifications

54 States have ratified one or both of the ILO conventions. 78 States have ratified one or more of these three instruments.

Full details

MFA CAMPAIGNS

Ratification campaign on the UN Human Rights Treaties and ILO Core Conventions

Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), Asian Forum for Human Rights and Develoment (FORUM-Asia) and the Task Force on ASEAN Migrant Workers jointly submitted a written statement to ASEAN member states to appeal for the ratification and implementation of the UN Treaties and ILO Conventions. More...

Migrant Forum in Asia is a key regional partner of the Asian Campaign on the Human Rights Council. More...

MFA launched the Equal Pay for Equal Work campaign on December 18, 2005. The campaign aims to promote equal, fair and humane treatment, just living and working conditions, access to opportunity for advancement and well-being, and equal pay for equal work among migrants and local workers. More...

Breaking the Ties that Bind UsA Call for Action Against Women’s Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS

Migrant Forum in Asia supports the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) in calling for Action Against Women’s Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. MFA believes that the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV/AIDS can be avoided. Policies, laws, regulations, programmes and practices that empower women and safeguard their human rights, including their reproductive and sexual rights, can be lobbied and advocated for where are they are missing and protected where they exist. We also do not need to wait for help but can take action to break the ties that binds us, now!

Join the campaign
List of supporting organizations

Migration and Development

Women Migrant Workers

Joint Position of Asian Migrant Centre, Coalition for Migrans' Rights and Asian Domestic Workers Alliance (03-Aug-07)
MFA Appeal to the CEDAW Committee to approve a comprehensive General Recommendation 27 on women migrant workers (25-Jul-07)
Asian Domestic Workers Assembly (17-18-Jun-07)
ADWA Statement of Unity (17-18-Jun-07)
SEE MORE

TU-NGO Collaboration in Promoting the Rights of Migrant Workers

Global debate on migration, development and human rights should return to the UN (10-Jul-07)
ICFTU-APRO regional workshop on migrant workers (Feb-07)
Establishment of Migrant Trade Union is Right! (1-Feb-07)
Trade unions endorse action plan to defend migrant rights (18-Dec-06)
SEE MORE

MFA Calendar of Activities 2008

November
10-12	International Conference on Multicultural Society and Human Rights (Seoul, Korea)
11-12	SAPA Task Force on ASEAN Human Rights Meeting with the High Level Panel of Indonesia (Bali, Indonesia)
15-22	UN Advocacy Week (New York, USA)
24-28	Committee on Migrant Workers 9th Session (Geneva, Switzerland)
25-27	Women's Human Rights and Global Community (Gyeongnam, Korea)
25-Dec 18	MFA Migrants Campaign Month
26-27	International Workshop on Legal Aid in Asia – Pacific and Cooperation in Providing Legal Aid to Migrant Workers (Hanoim, Vietnam)
29-Dec 1	3rd Regional Human Rights Defenders Forum and the International Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Day (Bangkok, Thailand)
DECEMBER
1-4	ESCR-Net Strategy Meeting (Nairobi, Kenya)
1-12	3rd Session of the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (Geneva, Swizerland)
12-14	ASEAN People's Forum / ASEAN Civil Society Conference (Bangkok, Thailand)
15-18	14th ASEAN Summit (Chiang Mai, Thailand)
20-21	MFA General Forum (Delhi, India)

MFA PARTNERS

Diplomacy Training Program

Task Force on ASEAN Migrant Workers

NEW PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FROM MFA

MOBILIZING MIGRANT COMMUNITY AND CIVIL SOCIETY VOICES FOR THE FIRST GLOBAL COMMUNITY FORUM ON MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT (GFMD): THE MFA EXPERIENCE

This report aims to present the various initiatives and strategies of the MFA network and its partners in engaging with the GFMD process.

UN HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE ON INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT 2006

This report provides an overview of the UNHLD, a summary of the preparatory activities of civil society and a report of the global community dialogue held parallel to the UNHLD.

BUILDING ALLIANCES AND LOBBYING FOR MIGRANTS' HUMAN RIGHTS

Migrant Forum in Asia gives a brief report of its engagement to the 92nd Session of the International Labour Conference held in 2004.

(see Resources page for more details. Quarterly MFA Newsletters also available.)

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