Global Filipinos Australia president Mrs Lolita Farmer OAM praised the recent approval of the United Nations resolution against migrant women and said “it deserves ratification by countries for its effective implementation.”
Mrs Farmer is one time recipient of the NSW Filipino Women’s Achievement Awards , once headed the defunct Philippine Women’s Council of Australia and an active worker for women’s rights in Australia
Mrs Farmer received the news herself from a post from Philippine government cabinet-ranked head of the Philippine Commission on Filipinos Overseas Ms Imelda Nicolas.
Mrs Farmer said, “Kudos to the Philippines for the bill and the countries that supported. We abhor and condemn the violence in any form. It (violence) is one of the human rights abuses.”
Mrs Farmer added, :May 2014 be the year of peace and protection to all.
The United Nations General Assembly has adopted the Philippine sponsored resolution giving protection to female migrant workers against abuse and exploitation.
In a statement the Philippine Commission on Women or PCW said the UN General Assembly adopted four resolutions under the Advancement of Women report, one of which is “Violence Against Women Migrant Workers” during UN’s 68th plenary assembly last December 18th.
The resolution urges UN member countries to ratify conventions from the International Labor Organisation or ILO protecting domestic workers, the family of all migrant workers and smuggled persons.
The resolution also calls for the abolition of al sponsorship systems, and for humane and sensitive treatment of all migrant workers and their families “regardless of their immigration statue”.
Indonesia presented the bill to the assembly in behalf of the Philippines and seven other countries October 24th last year.
The Philippine Commission on Women or PCW urged private institutions to provide gender sensitive procedures at their workplaces, and encouraged both the private and public sectors to recognise the contributions of these women in the economy, regardless of their immigration status.