Young people, here's how you can help protect women OFWs!

Almost half of the migrant workers in Southeast Asia are women. Everyday they toil—a thousand miles away from home—with the hope that they'll be able to provide a comfortable life for their families in the Philippines.

We only know of their heroic contributions, even dub them as "modern-day heroes", but it's not enough. Heroes have feelings too and they get tired. Imagine that they're taking care of other people's children at the expense of them leaving their own children and families. Some women are subjected and prone to sexual harassment and abuse by their employers, getting fired without notice, unfair pay, and unsafe transportation back home, and trafficking. They face a continuum of violence -  before they leave the country, they might already have experienced a range of violence from their homes to public spaces; and when they return, abusive relationships along with stigma may await them. 

These challenges are common and often unaddressed. Now it's time to shed light on these challenges and risks and how you, as the youth, can help safeguard and protect their rights.

If you have a parent, relative, or friend who is an overseas migrant worker, this article might help you protect them from harm overseas. In your own little way, you can help our migrant women workers.

1. Regularly check on women migrant worker relatives abroad

Being a migrant worker abroad can feel lonely and isolating. To show support for your women migrant relatives, keep in touch with them through regular kumustahans via video calls or instant messages. It only takes one click, but they'll surely appreciate it.

2. Learn about the contact numbers of relevant government agencies

Save relevant hotline numbers and helpdesk numbers of government agencies that might be able to serve or help out your migrant worker relative. These agencies are Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippines Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Violence Against Women (VAW) helplines.

For free online psychological first aid, psycho-social emotional support, counseling and referrals for women migrant workers subject to violence during the pandemic, call the Babaeng BiyaHero Helpline and the Safe and Fair hotlines:

You may also check this updated service directory for women migrant workers for specific contact numbers of relevant local offices.

3. Familiarize yourself with available support services for migrant workers

Safe and Fair Philippines created a website to serve as an information and support hub for women migrant workers. Familiarize yourself with these support channels and services so you'll be able to provide support when it's needed and you already know what to do.

You may check out https://www.babaengbiyahero.info/ for more information. 

They also have a list of knowledge products available for download--- these include "Essentials for quality multisectoral service provision to women migrant workers subject to violence," "Mga Palatandaan ng Human Trafficking," and other relevant materials to keep us more informed on VAW and migration. You may read and download them here: Babaeng Biyahero. 

4. Report VAW/abuse through proper channels

Women migrants who are victims of VAW or abuse may contact the Assistance to National Hotlines in their respective embassies. (See the directory here.)

You as a relative, friend, or supporter in the Philippines may contact your nearest OWWA, DFA, or even message the Babaeng BiyaHero Helpline on Facebook, or through the numbers below:

These helplines are part of the services under the Safe and Fair Programme.

5. Be one with the community through the "Ang Mama Kong Babaeng BiyaHero" event

Let them know that they have a strong support system that has their back, and that you advocate for them too! Edukasyon.ph, in partnership with Safe and Fair Philippines, will host an online event under the Ang Mama Kong BiyaHero campaign to champion the rights of Filipina women migrant workers. Safe and Fair Programme is part of the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls, a global, multi-year initiative of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN). Safe and Fair is jointly implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN Women in collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The programme's overall goal is to ensure that labour migration is safe and fair for all women in the ASEAN region. Locally, Safe and Fair Programme launched the Babaeng BiyaHero campaign to raise the public's awareness of issues faced by women migrant workers.

You can invite your parents, relatives and friends to listen to the real-life testimonies of migrant worker families, know fellow youth who are advocating for women migrant workers, and to find community amidst the risks and challenges related to their job.

As young people, we should be in the frontlines in supporting migrant women workers and these action steps are your jump off point in advocating for them. Even if you don't personally have someone in your family who's a migrant worker, you can still champion for their rights because you're one of the most important movers in our nation.

Give importance to the challenges of our migrant women workers and let's make sure that our Babeng BiyaHeroes are safe and protected today and the years to come. #ItTakesACommunity to do it, and YOU are part of this community!

Like and Follow the Babaeng BiyaHero Campaign:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BabaengBiyahero
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babaengbiyahero/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/biya_hero

#SpotlightEndViolence #SafeandFair #WithHer #BabaengBiyahero #SafeSaanMan #EndViolenceagainstWomenMigrantWorkers