“No excuse for not making labour and migration safe for women”

Female migrant workers, despite contributing a significant share to the economy, face alarming levels of sexual and other forms of gender-based violence and harassment all across the migration cycle. Actions to make labour and migration safe and fair a reality for them are sketchy at best or few and far between.

The deadly divide between “what we know works” in reducing the risk factors for gender-based violence and harassment, and “what we are doing” is unacceptable. Failure to end all forms of gender-based violence will also wreak havoc on other sustainable development goals and targets…

…Erwiana had come to Hong Kong from Indonesia to earn money, as her family was unable to fund her college education. “…When I arrived in Hong Kong, all my papers, such as my passport and employment contract, were taken by my recruiting agency and I began working as a domestic help….

…Women migrant workers are at great risk of gender-based violence and harassment because of the discrimination and inequality that they face as women (including in their countries of origin) and as migrants (especially in countries of destination)…