Safe and fair migration

Opening address at the culminating event of the Safe and Fair Days of Activism, and the celebration of International Migrants Day 2020

By Ms Ma. Concepcion Sardana, Senior Programme Officer delivered on behalf of Mr Khalid Hassan, Director, ILO Country Office for the Philippines at the culminating event of the Safe and Fair Days of Activism, and the celebration of International Migrants Day 2020, 18 December 2020 Manila, Philippines via Zoom and Facebook Live

Statement | Manila, Philippines | 18 December 2020
  • Mr Wagner of the European Union Delegation in the Philippines;
  • Secretary Lapeña of TESDA;
  • Administrator Cacdac of OWWA and Chair of the Safe and Fair project committee;
  • Atty Chaves of PCW;
  • Atty Dizon, of POLO Hong Kong;
  • Mr Monreal of the Manila International Airport Authority;
  • Governor Lacson of Negros Occidental;
  • Mayor Luistro of Tabaco City;
  • Friends, partners, ladies and gentlemen, good evening!
On behalf of the Safe and Fair team, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN Women, a warm welcome!

We mark the International Migrants Day globally and the month of Overseas Filipinos. This is indeed timely to culminate the “Safe and Fair Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women.”

Each year, Safe and Fair Philippines launches public awareness and capacity-building activities, under the “Babaeng BiyaHero” campaign banner. The 24-day campaign period starts on 25 November and culminates on 18 December.

“Sama-sama Tayo, Babaeng BiyaHero” echoes the global theme selected by the United Nations for 2020 -- #WE … TOGETHER.

In this event, we want to highlight messages on resiliency, voice, choice, agency and opportunities for women OFWs, including those displaced by the COVID pandemic.

This will be a learning event where women migrants will raise specific problems or needs at pre-departure, post-arrival and return/reintegration stages of their migration journey.

For each segment, we will have a panel of partners who will discuss concrete programmes or services for women OFWs. We will then formally launch specific projects in partnership with the government, civil society and migrant organizations.

We hope that these programmes and partnerships will inspire us in further addressing the challenges of labour migration, gender equity and sustainable development.

These and additional collaborative efforts are much needed as we build a better normal in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. These efforts will also contribute to the realization of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) of the Philippines, in ensuring that labour migration of Filipinos, particularly women, is SAFE from abuse, violence and exploitation, and FAIR in terms of adherence to decent work and labour rights standards, social protection, social dialogue, and ensuring gender responsiveness and equality.

A better future of work should be free from gender-based violence and harassment. Violence in all its forms is unacceptable. Migrant workers should have equal access to decent work, and must be treated with dignity and respect.

Thank you!