Protection of women workers

Protection of women workers

GENEVA (AFP): The UN Commission on Human Rights asked for better protection of women migrant workers against violence as unemployment and poverty in South and South-East Asian countries lead an increasing number of women to seek employment abroad.

A resolution of the 53-state commission adopted by consensus this week calls on countries to adopt and implement legislation emphasizing the prevention of violence against women and the prosecution of offenders. Meeting for its annual session in Geneva, the Commission also encourages governments to take measures to ensure the protection of women subjected to violence and that they have access to just and effective remedies, including compensation.

Specifically, the UN body recommends the sending and receiving states of women migrant workers to conduct regular consultations in order to identify problem areas in promoting and protecting the rights of women migrant workers and ensuring health, legal and social services for them.

This resolution was adopted as the Special Rappporteur on violence against women to the Commission noted in her report published earlier this year that at least 50 percent of the over 10 million Asian migrant workers are women coming from countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia.