Consultation on Women Migrant’s Rights in Light of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

 

WARBE Development Foundation organized a Consultation on ‘Women Migrant’s Rights in Light of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, supported by AWO International, at the Reporter’s Unity, Sagar & Runi auditorium, Dhaka on 15th March 2016 from 10:30am to 1:00 pm. Before the consultation there was a human chain held in front of press club where representatives from WARBE Development Foundation, Baangladesh Ovibashi Adhikar Forum (BOAF), returnee female migrant workers and other NGO representatives attended. The human chain held demanding for setting SDGs goals including women migrants and their right, implementing the right protecting laws and treaties for the women migrant workers, and ratification of ILO convention 189.
The objective of the consultation are:

  1. i) To oversee into the target & goals of the SDGs on protection of women migrants
    ii) Allow state ensure the migrants women rights in the development discourse on SDGs
    iii) Ratification of Domestic Worker ILO convention 189

Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman, WARBE Development Foundation, welcomed everyone and gave his welcome speech. He thanked the audience to be presented on the consultation on women migrant’s rights in light of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He played the role of moderator in the entire consultation.

Jasiya Khatoon, Director, WARBE DF, spoke as the key note speaker. She said, most of the female workers go to UAE for domestic work, but they are not safe there. Also they face multi-problems within the country like middlemen involvement, machine readable passport, 21 days training etc. She says, 21 day long training is not sufficient for developing sound skill. Also she says, women migrants face certain problems in the destination countries like health problem, food problem. Women migrant’s rights should be included in the setting up of SDG indicators, she added.

Tapoti Bhattachariya, Ain o Salish Kendra, says she wonders why women go abroad, where they come across so many forms of abuses and negligence. And the government is not also sincere about their sufferings. Moreover, they migrate abroad leaving behind all the dear ones in the family. Still they do not acquire sufficient knowledge about the destination countries. That is also a big reason why they face problem overseas.

Murshida Akhtar, General Secretary, Jatio Garhosto Nari Shromik Network, says- there are the incidents of recovering dead bodies of many girls across the country which, in most cases, go unreported. Even dead body was found at the house of government secretary. So, above all, the government servants need to be conscious and dutiful. And protests should be ignited from everywhere. If the women fail to protest then they are not likely to stand upright.
Pulok Ranjan Dhar, General Secretary, Bangladesh Construction and Wood Worker’s Federation (BCWWF), says Trade Union always addresses the plights and distresses of the women worker. Also they place many demands in favor of the women workers. Trade Union is always beside WARBE with their any involvement on the issue of women workers and their rights.

Sumaiya Islam, Director, BOMSA, says- women play a very significant and remarkable role in building the society, which is no less than the men. She also says- women should be aware of the rules and laws of destination countries. If Trade Union, labors, NGOs, Civil Societies work together with this issue then this problem will go away.

Faruque Ahmed, Secretary General, WARBE Development Foundation, says- government should address the issue of women abuses abroad. He also said, government should provide them state protection. The cancellation of the deal with Malaysia is due to the failure of the government.

Abul Hossain, Trade Union leader, says- if there were employments within the country people would not go abroad. There should not be any discrimination on men and women. The political situation of Middle East and Syria is restless and currently there is no life guarantee. So sending people over there is like putting them into danger. Establish rights is a basic need. It may come through peacefully, or through violence.

After the discussions of the speakers the floor was open to all. One returnee victim migrant worker shares her story of distress and abuse during her staying abroad.

After all the fruitful discussion, Mr. Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman, WARBE Development Foundation, urges every stakeholders to work together, and fearlessly to fight against this kind of dire social problems which puts the women in sheer jeopardy. He again thanks everyone for participating and making the consultation a fruitful one and concludes the meeting.