This year marks the 25th anniversary of the UN Migrant Workers Convention and the 40th year of the ILO Convention 143 on migrant workers across the world.
STEP IT UP: Dignity, Rights, Development is the global campaign launched by the Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) network and its affiliated civil society organizations, trade unions, the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The campaign calls for the ratification and implementation of the UN Migrant Workers Convention, ILO Convention 97, 143, 181 and 189.
More info on this ‘Step It Up: Dignity, Rights Development’ Campaign can be found at here: http://cmw25.org/migrants-campaign-month-2015/.
The Migrants’ Campaign Month (MCM) is the annual advocacy programme of the MFA network in order to 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.
From 25 November 2015 to 18 December 2015, MCM will be highlighting international dates ranging from violence against women, HIV/AIDS, abolition of slavery, human rights, migrant’s rights by using the following hashtags:
- 25 November – 10 December – 16 days of Activism to Combat Violence against Women #VAW #OrangetheWorld #16days #UNWomen
- 1 December – International HIV/AIDS Day #HIV #AIDSFreeGen #WAD2015
- 2 December – International Day of Abolition of Slavery #EndSlavery #EndHumanTrafficking
- 10 December – International Human Rights Days #HumanRights
- 18 December – International Migrants’ Day #MigrantsDay
In addition, MFA is compiling all activities and photos and posting them in the facebook events page. Link to the events page below:
https://www.facebook.com/
Please find below the list of the relevant activities that will take place during the campaign in the Asian region:
<Bangladesh>
- WARBE (Welfare Association for the Rights of Bangladeshi Emigrants) Development Foundation)
- 25 November 2015 – Human Chain & Discussion Meeting on “Ratification of ILO Convention 189 and Domestic Workers Rights and Dignity”
- 1 December 2015 – an awareness programme on “Right to Health for Migrant Domestic Workers”
- 2 December 2015 – a discussion meeting on “Migrant Domestic Workers Rights and Dignity”
- 10 December 2015 – media consultation
- 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)”
- 18 December 2015 – will have colorful rally, a cultural programme and different seminars in eleven districts of Twelve (12) Upazila
<Philippines>
- Center For Migrant Advocacy (CMA)
- 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.”
- 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.”
- Lawyers Beyond Borders (LBB) Philippines
- 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.
- 16 December 2015 – Book Launch of “Selected Philippine Laws, Rules and Regulations on Overseas Employment”
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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)
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
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Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) is a regional network of non-government organizations (NGOs), associations and trade unions of migrant workers, and individual advocates in Asia who are committed to protect and promote the rights and welfare of migrant workers. MFA acts as a facilitator, a regional communication and coordination point between member-organizations and advocates.
Asia Democracy Network (ADN) is a civil society led multi-stakeholders’ platform among democracy advocates and human rights defenders dedicated to the strengthening of democracy and human rights. ADN is a collaborative effort among CSOs engaged in democracy, human rights and development at the different levels of global, regional, national and local to enhance the synergetic effects of the joint advocacy of CSOs in the Asia region. ADN was founded in Seoul, Korea in Oct. 2013.