Migrants’ Campaign Month 2015

Migrant Forum in Asia Secretariat

This year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the UN Migrant Workers Convention and the 40th year anniversary of the ILO Convention 143. It is a perfect occasion to magnify our unwavering advocacy to further the ratification and implementation of the two Conventions. This year the migrants campaign month will be linked up to our global “Step It Up campaign”, which highlights the significance of the UN and ILO Conventions on the light of all migrants irrespective of their status.

Migrants’ Campaign Month (MCM) is the annual advocacy programme of the MFA network where we highlight issues on migrants’ rights and universal ratification of international human rights instruments which calls for states to demonstrate their political will and commit to a rights-based approach to migrants. We are inviting you to celebrate with us this momentous occasion which will be from 25 November 2015 to 18 December 2015 as a countdown to the 25th anniversary of the Migrant Workers Convention. The MCM covers the following international dates:

25 November – 10 December – 16 days of Activism to Combat Violence against Women

1 December – International HIV/AIDS Day

2 December – International Day of Abolition of Slavery

10 December – International Human Rights Days

18 December – International Migrants’ Day

This year’s MCM will also be supporting the ILO 50 For Freedom campaign which was recently launched in London during a special event held in partnership with the Ethical Trading Initiative and Innovation Forum last Tuesday, 20 October 2015. 50 for Freedom is a campaign to mobilize public support as part of the push to get at least 50 countries to ratify the ILO Protocol on Forced Labour. In line with this, we will be collecting cases related to forced labour. If you have any cases that you want to highlight as an urgent appeal, please send these to us by 20 November 2015.  For more information on the campaign you can check the campaign website: http://50forfreedom.org/

Migrant Forum in Asia will continuously update on the activities of MFA Members. As of now, kindly see below the list of activities of MFA’s members.

Bangladesh

  • WARBE (Welfare Association for the Rights of Bangladeshi Emigrants) Development Foundation)
    1. 25 November 2015 – Human Chain & Discussion Meeting on “Ratification of ILO Convention 189 and Domestic Workers Rights and Dignity”
    2. 1 December 2015 – an awareness programme on “Right to Health for Migrant Domestic Workers”
    3. 2 December 2015 – a discussion meeting on “Migrant Domestic Workers Rights and Dignity”
    4. 10 December 2015 –  media consultation
    5. 17 December 2015 – a press conference on the significance of International Migrants Day, and a seminar on “Migration & Development in light of Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)”
    6. 18 December 2015 – will have colorful rally, a cultural programme and different seminars in eleven districts of Twelve (12) Upazila

Belgium

  • Migrants Matter
    1. 18 December 2015 – launching of the booklet entitled “Illustrate Our Rights”

Cambodia

  • Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW)

    1. December 3 and 4 2015 –  a safe migration campaign program at the community in KAMPONG CHAM province. LSCW will cooperate with Cambodian Female Migrant Network (CFMN) to host the program in the community.

    2. December 9 and December 17 2015 – a radio talkshow program with two thematics:
      – End violence against domestic worker and Migrant domestic workers

      – The contribution of female migrant worker into development and protection mechanism for female migrant workers.

    3. December 18 2015 – there will be a forum on migrant workers in the context of labor migration. The forum will review the existing mechanism to protect migrant workers and to develop the recommendation to strengthen the protection mechanism.

Philippines

  • Center For Migrant Advocacy (CMA)
    1. 8 December 2015 – forum in partnership with UN Women and Commission on Human Rights(CHR) Philippines entitled “In Focus: Women Migrant Workers and the CMW Concluding Comments.”
    2. 17 December 2015 – forum in partnership with UN Women and Commission on Human Rights(CHR) Philippines entitled “Media Forum: Women Migrants and the CMW Concluding Observations.”
  • Kanlungan Center
    1. 1 December to 18 December 2015 – they will be conducting a series  of  discussion in different communities in La Union  and Pangasinan, organized  by  their  partners  in  Banuar Ti  La Union  and  Kanlungan extension office in La Union  headed  by Ms. Rose  Bayan.
    2. Weekly publication of  previous  statements for the entire year  and hopefully  we could issue  an online  publication as part of  their  social media  campaign for the  Migrant  workers month.
  • Lawyers Beyond Borders (LBB) Philippines
    1. 10 December 2015 – Street Legal Education (SLE) in the Provinces of Sarangani and South Cotabato in partnership with the Diocese of Marbel Social Action Center.
    2. 16 December 2015 – Book Launch of “Selected Philippine Laws, Rules and Regulations on Overseas Employment” in partnership with Kanlungan Center
    3. December 2015 – “Stop Illegal Recruitment. Yes to Ethical Recruitment: An Advocacy Campaign Through Radio Program”. This activity is tied-up with DXCP, through Fr. Raul Valles

Singapore

  • Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
    1. 3 December 2015 – a book launch for “A Thousand and One Days (Volume Two): Stories of Hardship from South Asian Workers in Singapore”. The book is a collection of workers’ own stories, edited by Sallie Yea, Rashedul Haque and Debbie Fordyce.
    2. 13 December 2015 –  an annual benefit event entitled “Lunch with Heart” which enables people to become part of an inclusive community of Singaporeans, expats and foreign workers alike. There will be performances, games and lucky draws.
  • Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME)
    1. 12 December 2015 – commemoration of IMD with the opening and launch of the new drop-in center for Indonesian migrant workers. A petition will be circulated to all invited guests to sign and urge the Singapore government to ratify the Migrant Workers’ Conventions which will be presented to the government on IMD itself.

Kindly continue to check this website to know more about activities and events happening in celebration of Migrants’ Campaign Month. You can also search for the hashtag “#StepItUp” on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.