INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENDER, MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Seizing Opportunities, Upholding Rights
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
The opening up of countries due to globalization has resulted in the increasing migration of workers and their families. However, as noted by Ambassador Regine de Clerq in the First Global Forum on Migration and Development, migration is the most complex issue related to globalization yet it is the least addressed issue.
A recent development worth noting in the field of migration is the growing number of women migrants making up nearly half of the international migrant population, increasingly referred to as the "feminization of migration". These women migrate for various reasons such as reunification with their families, marriage, and increasingly, to search for jobs. Commercialized migration of domestic workers and caregivers, trafficking of women for sexual exploitation, and organized migration of women for marriage, reflect the kind of jobs or sectors women migrate into. Much of trafficking, in particular, happens within the context of migration by manipulating the vulnerability of women and legal migration channels.
Such conditions exist despite countries' endorsement of regional and international human rights instruments such as the ASEAN Declaration on the Promotion and the Protection of Rights of Migrant Workers, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC), the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. and other state obligations on migrant workers.
Against this background, this conference seeks to (a) highlight rights violations against women migrant workers and (b) provide a forum for policy dialogue, highlighting good practice in policies and programmes that protect the rights of women migrant workers at all stages of migration.
CONFERENCE GOALS:
To infuse a gender perspective and rights-based approach to policies, programs, and services on migration
To explore partnerships and linkages among different sectors of government, civil society organizations, academe and the private sector in upholding and protecting the rights of migrant women and their children.
CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES:
To facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices in promoting opportunities and gender equality for women migrants, enhancing their contribution to development and upholding their rights and those of their families;
To infuse a gender perspective and rights-based approach to policies, programs, and services on migration; and
To contribute to the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the deliberations of the 2nd Global Forum of Migration and Development to be held in Manila on 27-30 October 2008.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
global partnerships forged toward systematic inter-government and multi-sectoral approach
clarity in terms of gender perspective and rights-based approach to migration issues
improved networking facilities among participating countries
a Call to Action that will contain the set of recommended actions to uphold the rights of migrant women workers.
PARTICIPANTS
Around three hundred (300) target participants include the following:
Government Senior Officials (from UN Member States) directly involved in policy making, particularly on women, migration and development matters
Civil society (from UN Member States): women and migrant advocacy groups, children's advocacy groups, NGOs, religious groups, federations, trade unions
Academe
Private sector
improved networking facilities among participating countries
International and Regional Organizations
DATE and VENUE
The Conference will be held on September 25-26, 2008 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, CCP Complex Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, 1300 MANILA, PHILIPPINES.
APPLICATION
Interested parties may express their interest to participate by filling out the
registration form and sending it by email to
icgmd2008@yahoo.com. For other details you may inquire through email or call +632.735.4766 or +632.735.1654 loc. 125.
Limited sponsorship, with counterpart from your end, are available.
MEETING MECHANICS / FORMAT
The Conference will run for two days, with a plenary session and eight (8) simultaneous discussion sessions allotted for each day. A facilitator will be assigned in each discussion group. The simultaneous session groups are expected to develop come up with concrete outputs, including good practices (policies and programs), areas of cooperation, knowledge and implementation gaps, and recommended courses of actions or initiatives.
FOLLOW THROUGH AFTER CONFERENCE
Progress on the implementation of the agreements and the Platform for Action will be monitored by the Conveners. If resources will permit, follow-up meetings will be organized once in two years, where the reports on the implementation of agreements will be presented. Similar conferences may also be convened, focusing on other women-specific themes that stemmed from the Conference.
CONVENORS / ORGANIZERS
The Government of the Philippines will host the Conference, which will be convened by the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) in partnership with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Women and Gender Institute-Miriam College- (WAGI-Miriam College), Lola Grande Foundation for Women and Children, Inc., and Migrant Forum Asia/Migrant Rights International (MFA/MRI). This conference is also in cooperation with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
FUNDING AGENCIES
Possible sources of funding will be tapped such as the private sector, NGOs, and financial institutions, both national and international.
BUDGET
Conference expenses will be covered by the Philippine Government and resources mobilized from the private sector and ODA. Costs of travel and accommodations shall be covered by the participants. Subsidies from participants from developing countries may be provided based on funds raised for the project.
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