#HRC41 – ARROW’s statement on the human rights of migrants

Clustered interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants and the Independent Expert on international solidarity

Speaker name: Sanila Gurung

Thank you, Mr. President,
I am making this statement on behalf of the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW).

We appreciate the report of the special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants and its analysis of sexual and reproductive health needs of migrant women workers. Indeed vulnerabilities are severe and acute among women migrants in unsupervised and unregulated sectors such as domestic work and informal sectors . Low-skilled migrant women workers are reduced to asexual beings in contractual labour agreements. Female migrants have to undergo pregnancy tests in many host countries, and if found pregnant before departure, they are excluded from the programme. If pregnancy occurs during their stay, they are repatriated. When they manage to remain in the country and join the many undocumented workers, their children may not be recognised by both their country of origin and their destination country, and are at risk of becoming stateless. Further, there is the imposition of mandatory HIV and sexually transmitted infections by many host states in Southeast Asia which is a gross violation of their rights to privacy and bodily integrity. Multiple personal, socio-cultural and structural factors hinder migrant women’s access to SRHR services. Attitudes of employers, fear of deportation, concern over medical cost , and the overall inaccessibility and unawareness about available services and information play a vital role in the prevention of female migrant workers seeking out and accessing SRHR services, if present at all.

A fundamental shift is needed to reinstate migrant women workers’ agency and fulfillment of their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We urge States to review punitive policies and repeal compulsory testing and deportation of women migrant workers on account of pregnancy and HIV status.

We also call on states to ensure sustainable pre-departure, in-transition and post-arrival programmes that protect, respect and fulfill the SRHR of all women migrant workers.

Lastly, States need to commit to increase and improve data generation on SRHR issues of women, and young migrant workers, as evidence and basis in the development of relevant and appropriate SRHR policies and programmes in the destination countries.

Thank you.

Vietnam

  • Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP)

Indonesia

  • Aliansi Satu Visi (ASV);
  • CEDAW Working Group;
  • Hollaback! Jakarta;
  • Institut Kapal Perempuan;
  • Kalyanamitra;
  • Komnas Perempuan;
  • Remaja Independen Papua/Independent Youth
    Forum Papua (FRIP/IYFP);
  • Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia (PKBI);
  • Perkumpulan Lintas Feminis Jakarta;
  • Perkumpulan Pamflet Generasi;
  • RUTGERS Indonesia;
  • Sanggar SWARA;
  • Women on Web;
  • Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan (YKP); 
  • YIFOS Indonesia

Maldives

  • Hope for Women
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)
#HRC41 - ARROW's statement on the human rights of migrants

Clustered interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants and the Independent Expert on international solidarity

Speaker name: Sanila Gurung

Thank you, Mr. President,
I am making this statement on behalf of the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW).

We appreciate the report of the special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants and its analysis of sexual and reproductive health needs of migrant women workers. Indeed vulnerabilities are severe and acute among women migrants in unsupervised and unregulated sectors such as domestic work and informal sectors . Low-skilled migrant women workers are reduced to asexual beings in contractual labour agreements. Female migrants have to undergo pregnancy tests in many host countries, and if found pregnant before departure, they are excluded from the programme. If pregnancy occurs during their stay, they are repatriated. When they manage to remain in the country and join the many undocumented workers, their children may not be recognised by both their country of origin and their destination country, and are at risk of becoming stateless. Further, there is the imposition of mandatory HIV and sexually transmitted infections by many host states in Southeast Asia which is a gross violation of their rights to privacy and bodily integrity. Multiple personal, socio-cultural and structural factors hinder migrant women’s access to SRHR services. Attitudes of employers, fear of deportation, concern over medical cost , and the overall inaccessibility and unawareness about available services and information play a vital role in the prevention of female migrant workers seeking out and accessing SRHR services, if present at all.

A fundamental shift is needed to reinstate migrant women workers’ agency and fulfillment of their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We urge States to review punitive policies and repeal compulsory testing and deportation of women migrant workers on account of pregnancy and HIV status.

We also call on states to ensure sustainable pre-departure, in-transition and post-arrival programmes that protect, respect and fulfill the SRHR of all women migrant workers.

Lastly, States need to commit to increase and improve data generation on SRHR issues of women, and young migrant workers, as evidence and basis in the development of relevant and appropriate SRHR policies and programmes in the destination countries.

Thank you.

Morocco

  • Association Marocaine de Planification Familiale (AMPF),
  • Morocco Family Planning Association

India

  • CommonHealth;
  • Love Matters India;
  • Pravah;
  • Rural Women’s Social Education Centre (RUWSEC);
  • SAHAYOG;
  • Sahaj;
  • Sahiyo;
  • SAMA – Resource Group for Women and Health;
  • WeSpeakOut;
  • The YP Foundation (TYPF)

Lao PDR

  • Lao Women’s Union;
  • The Faculty of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Health
    Sciences (UHS)

Sri Lanka

  • Bakamoono;
  • Women and Media Collective (WMC),
  • Youth Advocacy Network – Sri Lanka (YANSL)

Malaysia

  • Federation of Reproductive Health Associations of Malaysia (FRHAM);
  • Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG);
  • Justice for Sisters (JFS);
  • Reproductive Health Association of
    Kelantan (ReHAK);
  • Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM);
  • Sisters in Islam (SIS)

Maldives

  • Hope for Women;
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)

Myanmar

  • Colourful Girls Organization;
  • Green Lotus Myanmar

Nepal

  • Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC);
  • Blind Youth Association of Nepal;
  • Blue Diamond Society (BDS);
  • Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA);
  • Visible Impact;
  • Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC);
  • YPEER Nepal;
  • YUWA

Pakistan

  • Aahung, Centre for Social Policy Development (CSPD);
  • Forum for Dignity Initiative (FDI);
  • Gravity Development Organization; Green Circle Organization;
  • Indus Resources Center (IRC);
  • Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aaghai (ITA);
  • Rehnuma – Family Planning Association Pakistan;
  • Shelter
    Participatory Organisation;
  • Shirkat Gah;
  • The Enlight Lab

Philippines

  • Democratic Socalist Women of the Philippines (DSWP);
  • Galang;
  • Healthcare Without Harm;
  • Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities;
  • Likhaan Centre for Women’s Health;
  • Nisa UI Haqq Fi Bangsamoro;
  • PATH Foundation Inc. (PFPI);
  • Women’s Global Network for
    Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Singapore

  • End Female Genital Cutting Singapore
  • Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Mongolia

  • MONFEMNET National Network