Four Asean sectoral bodies overseeing women’s and children’s rights, migrant workers, and disaster management, met for the first time in Manila on Friday to discuss the particular challenges facing women migrant workers in crisis situations. Women migrant workers are often the most vulnerable to crises, and have the least access to support services and tools in their host countries, said a press release on Friday. Migrant women workers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) face widespread discrimination and abuse, yet are often cut off from the mechanisms and services that could support them. Participants discussed the findings of a scoping study that pinpointed the particular actions needed to protect and empower women migrant workers, particularly during crisis or disaster situations. “This includes access to essential services such as education and justice, as well as health services including sexual and reproductive health.

Source: The Nation Bangkok December 15, 2017 04:41 UTC