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- 17 December 2008
As the world celebrates International Migrants Day, the Arroyo regime's continued neglect to OFWs and their families reach new height
- 29 November 2008 WLB issues urgent call for UN Representatives to visit Nilar Thein and other Women Human Rights Defenders in Burma
- 27 November 2008: RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC WORK AS WORK WITH ONE PAID DAY OFF TO DRASTICALLY REDUCE VIOLENCE AGAINST DOMESTIC WORKERS
- Presss Statement on the Occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: Violence Against Indigenous Women Springs from the Violation of Ancestral Land Rights, Innabuyog, BAI and AIWN
- 25 Nov 2008 - 16 Days Activism to End Violence against Women Statement: Indigenous Women Speak out to End Violence against Women
- 24 November 2008 IRENE FERNANDEZ IS ACQUITTED
- Apologies for cross-posting
Press Statement
28 October 2008
For reference:
Dolores Balladares Spokesperson, Tel. (852) 97472986
On the eve of the GFMD, HK migrants call for justice for rights advocate in Malaysia
While the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) will talk about the rights of migrant workers in Manila, Dr. Irene Fernandez of Tenaganita a staunch defender of such rights in Malaysia will be in court on the same dates of the GFMD activities. It is obvious that the Malaysian government which will participate in said activities would not want one of its fiercest critics to freely criticize its harsh treatment of migrant workers and refugees to which Dr. Fernandez was charged for libel.
She was arrested and charged in March 18, 1996 for issuing a memorandum entitled "Abuse, Torture and Dehumanized Treatment of Migrant Workers at the Detention Camps". Dr. Fernandez, however, posted bail after being sentenced for 12 months in jail and has appealed the case ever since. The actual hearing of the appeal will only commence on 28-30 October 2008 and 24-28 November 2008. This has made Dr. Fernandez¢ court case the longest in Malaysia¢s legal history.
Included in the memorandum which Tenaganita issued were abuses made on Filipino nationals. However, Migrante International one of the partners of Tenaganita recently stated that the RP-Malaysia working group which was set up in 2005 to diffuse the international outrage against the massive crackdown by Malaysia on undocumented migrant workers only exists on paper. Essentially the timing of Dr. Fernandez’ hearing would also want to ensure that the working group of both countries would not be exposed again this time to an international audience.
Dr. Fernandez’ case in Malaysia is not an isolated case of repression and prosecution. In different countries, curtailment of civil and political rights of migrants and advocates are common such as that of Victor Toro - active in the fight of undocumented migrants in the United States – and of Filipino worker Gil Lebria in Kuwait.
With the basic human rights of free expression violated, what is there to really expect of attending states in the GFMD?
Already the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration had already issued a warning late afternoon of yesterday that foreigners who would participate in anti-GFMD activities in Manila would be deported.
It is very clear what the Malaysian, Philippine and most governments attending the GFMD would only want to talk to. That is, how to maximize profits from the labor export of people and not on their human rights including that of human rights defender Dr. Irene Fernandez and of other migrants and advocates actively resisting their anti-migrant policies.#
- 27 October 2008, Manila - Migrants Say No to the Global Forum on Migration and Development - Statement of the International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees (IAMR)
- Rural and Indigenous Women Assert Food Sovereignty!
- 05 Aug 2008, More trafficking of women reported
- 15-16 June 2008, Hong Kong - International Migrants Alliance Founding Assembly: the first-ever global alliance of grassroots migrant organizations and their mass-based advocates! 118 participating organizations from 25 countries
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| "For a long time, others spoke on our behalf. Now we speak for ourselves." |
- 07 July 2008 - For the G8! Joint NGO Proposal on Exploitative
Migration and Human Trafficking
- 17 August, 2008 Philippines - INNABUYOG MEETING REVEALS HUNGER FOR CORDILLERA WOMEN
- 8 July 2008, Mongolia: Human Rights under State of Emergency Monitoring and Protection Coalition Statement
- 8 August 2008 - Statement on 20th Anniversary of 8888 Pro-democracy uprising in Burma
[Burmese] [English]
- 08 Aug 2008, India - International Fact Finding Mission investigated and condemned the imminent displacement and destruction of livelihoods of poor in Dankuni and Mahhisadal, West Bengal due to Special economic Zones
- Sri Lanka: Civilian Welfare Must Not be Compromised by Military Exigencies
- 4 July 2008, Mongolia: Civil Society Organisations issue two statements, as Mongolia is put under a State of Emergency to quell election-related riots
- 24 June 2008 WLB calls for General Than Shwe to be charged crimes against humanity under new UNSC resolution.
- 19 June 2008, Philippines - OKINAWA RAPE: SHOWCASE OF VIOLENCE, NEGLECT, INUTILITY, SERVILITY TO US RULE
- 19 June 2008 - WLB renews call for immediate release of Daw AungSan Suu Kyi
- 17 June 2008 - World Bank & ADB cautioned against increasing engagement with Burma's military regime following post-Nargis assessment- ECDF
- 6 June 2008, Geneva- Joint Oral Statement delivered by Ms. Yuyun Wahyuningrum: Follow-up to the special session on the situation of human rights in Myanmar
- June 11, 2008, Malaysai - Trial of Irene Fernandez, Director of Tenaganita postponed to August 5, 2008 at the High Court 5, Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur.
- 6 June 2008, Malaysia: STATEMENT ON TRIAL OF IRENE FERNANDEZ
- Nepal - Constituent Assembly Election Election Result
- Referendum Must Be Called Off & International Aid Allowed In
- Philippines - Women Demand the Pull Out of US Troops in Socsksargen and in the whole of Mindanao!
- Statement delivered by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), on
Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, APWLD as co-signatory
- Statement at the COP 13 to UNFCCC (Bali Climate Change Conference) on behalf of Women and Climate Change Network on December 14, 2007
- WLB statement on the 60th anniversary of Burma's Independence Day
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