Experts call for immediate attention to the HIV-vulnerabilities of
migrant women

Colombo, Oct 08: There is an urgent need to address the HIV
vulnerabilities of Asian migrant women in Arab countries so that the
economic gains of the countries of origin and host countries, as well
as the health and rights of the migrant women are protected, said a
panel of experts here.

Asian women working overseas generate substantial economic benefits to
their countries of origin as well as host countries, but a large
number of them are vulnerable to HIV because of the unsafe conditions
under which they migrate and live, said the panelists, participating
in a roundtable discussion on "Women migrants and HIV: from Asia to
the Arab States," organized by the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo.

Senior officials of the governments and representatives of civil
society of Sri Lanka, Philippines, and Lebanon; representatives of key
diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka; UN officials; and migrant welfare
organizations, participated in the roundtable.

The Executive Summary of a research study by UNDP titled "HIV
Vulnerabilities Faced by Women Migrants: From Asia to the Arab
States," undertaken in partnership with UNAIDS, IOM, UNIFEM, CARAM
Asia and Caritas Lebanon was released at the roundtable.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ajay Chhibber, Assistant Secretary
General and Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNDP,
said at any given point in time, an estimated 54 million people were
on the move within Asia and to destinations outside the region.

About 43 per cent of them were women. Noting that the highest share of
global remittances went to Asia in 2006, he said the support to
migrant women was far too inadequate compared to their economic
contribution. "Women often migrate under unsafe conditions, live
under very difficult circumstances, and can be targets of sexual
exploitation and violence. With little or no access to health services
and social protection, these factors can make them highly vulnerable
to HIV," he said.

In recent years, an increasing number of migrant workers from Asia
have been diagnosed with HIV in various host countries and have been
deported, causing severe economic loss for the workers and their
families.

"There is a need for strategic national, regional and international
action to ensure safe movement and access to HIV programmes for
migrant and mobile populations," he said. Addressing the HIV
vulnerabilities of migrants is essential for achieving Universal
Access, and the Millennium Development Goal and target of halting and
beginning to reverse the spread of HIV by 2015.

Mr. Chhibber underscored the commitment of UNDP in tackling the issue
at the global and regional levels. Sri Lanka is one of the countries
that would benefit from a joint European Commission-UNDP initiative on
migration and development, he added.

Presenting the Executive Summary of the study, Ms. Caitlin Wiesen,
Regional Programme Coordinator and Practice Leader, HIV and AIDS,
UNDP, said migrant women are among the most vulnerable to HIV. It is
critical to stress that migration per se is not a risk factor for HIV,
but it is the conditions under which people move - separated from
families and social support systems – that make them vulnerable to
exploitation and HIV," she added. "Women, particularly domestic
workers, are among the most vulnerable. They experience basic rights
violations, in terms of pay and conditions of work. Many respondents
reported physical violence, verbal and sexual abuse."

Speaking on the national programme for reintegration of overseas
Filipino workers in her country, Ms. MA Teresa M. Soriano, Assistant
Secretary, Department of Labour and Employment, Philippines, said the
Government paid special attention to personal reintegration, economic
reintegration and community reintegration. Migrants have access to
advice on investment so that they can act as a trigger for economic
and community activity, she said.

Dr. Duala de Silva, Deputy Director General, Public Health Services,
Sri Lanka, said migrant remittances amounted to more than US $ 3
billion a year and supported one fifth of the nation's population.

The Government conducts preparatory programmes for the migrants, which
include HIV, she said.

Participating as a key discussant, Ms. Malu Marin, Director, ACHIEVE,
an NGO working for migrants' welfare in the Philippines, and
coordinator of the study, said that restricting the movement of women
migrants would push migration underground and increase their risk to
exploitation and HIV infection. She said domestic workers were tested
without consent and counseling and were summarily deported if found to
be HIV positive.

"This needs to change in favour of a migrant-friendly testing policy".
The Arab States region is the primary destination for the majority of
migrant workers from the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Ms. Sylvia Eid, Caritas Lebanon, another panelist, added that reducing
the HIV vulnerability of migrant women was the shared responsibility
of both countries of origin and host countries. The study recommended
dialogues and coordination between ministries of health, labour,
foreign affairs and social welfare in the countries of origin and
destination and facilitate multi-country negotiations between origin
and host countries, she said.

The research study featured at the roundtable examines the
HIV-vulnerability of women migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan,
Philippines and Sri Lanka to Bahrain, Lebanon and UAE and explores
ways to address their HIV risks without compromising their right to
movement and livelihood. The study was based on qualitative research
comprising more than 500 interviews over nine months using focus group
discussions and key informant interviews with migrant workers, senior
officials of the ministries of health, labour and foreign bureaus of
employment, embassy officials, service providers and recruitment
agencies in both origin and host countries.

The Executive Summary of the study may be accessed here:
http://www2.undprcc.lk/resource_centre/rcc_publications.php

For more information, please contact

Marta Vallejo in Bangkok (marta.vallejo@...) or
Nashida Sattar in Colombo (nashida.sattar@...)