OVERVIEW OF PHASE I and PHASE II

Overview of Phase I (2001-2004)

The programme was launched in 2001 in Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines as countries of origin and Jordan as a country of employment, drawing on the migration experiences of countries such as Sri Lanka. Phase I activities focused at the national level, to establish baseline information, government and institutional partnerships and raise awareness of the issues.

Phase I achievements included:

• international commitments to integrate women migrants’ rights into global and regional consultations, women’s rights conventions (CEDAW) and international reports;

• exchanges, advocacy and awareness-raising through conferences, workshops and multi-media materials, resulting in country of origin governments collaborating on migration issues and the government of Nepal adopting training and other materials from the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong;i

• in Jordan, adoption of a special working contract for foreign domestic workers, labour law amendments developed to recognise and protect domestic workers, introduction of regulations for recruitment agencies and establishment of the first women’s rights NGO that also addresses migrant women’s rights;

• in Nepal, identification and inclusion of women migrant workers’ concerns in the National Development Plan, CEDAW National Plan of Action and CEDAW NGO report and a media campaign resulting in government policy reform;

• in Indonesia, a provincial law on protection of migrant workers drafted in Blitar and similar commitments made by other provincial leaders, a gender perspective mainstreamed into a national bill on protection of migrant workers; and i

• in the Philippines, a pilot savings and investment scheme initiated by a migrant workers’ NGO, and local government support gained for inclusion of gender-responsive reintegration provisions in local development plans and in the investment code.

Overview of Phase II (2005-2007)

Phase II consolidates and expands activities initiated in Phase I countries, incorporating lessons learned and targeting gaps identified in these countries. There is greater emphasis on increasing regional dialogue between countries of origin and employment to improve conditions for women migrant workers; addressing demand-side issues of migration for work including in the Arab States region; promoting and facilitating policy changes to increase protection for women migrant workers; generating private sector involvement; and implementation of pilot projects.  The Programme has expanded to include Bangladesh, Cambodia and Lao PDR as countries of origin and Hong Kong and Thailand as countries of employment.

Phase II activities include:

• promoting the adoption of a General Recommendation on Women Migrants under CEDAW;

• mainstreaming lessons learned into global initiatives (Global Commission on International Migration, Beijing + 10);

• regional meetings to develop new initiatives and share good practices;

• facilitating implementation of Thailand’s MOU on employment with Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar;

• development of a regional code of conduct for recruitment agencies; and

• pilot projects on pre-recruitment/pre-departure training.