Bottlenose

Global Challenges | Panel Discusses How Asian Migrant Women Are Vulnerable
to HIV
[Oct 10, 2008]

      Although Asian migrant women working in Arab countries generate
significant economic benefits for both their home and host countries, many
of them are at risk of HIV because of the unsafe conditions under which they
migrate and live, according to a panel of experts organized by the United
Nations Development Programme Regional Center in
Colombo,
Sri Lanka , The Hindureports.
According to the panelists — which included senior government
officials and representatives of civil society in Lebanon , the Philippines
and Sri Lanka ; representatives of key diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka; U.N.
officials; and migrant welfare organizations — it is critical that the HIV
vulnerabilities of this demographic are addressed so that the economic gains
of both home and host countries, as well as the health and rights of migrant
women, are protected.

Ajay Chhibber, assistant secretary-general and director of UNDP’s Regional
Bureau for Asia and the Pacific , said that women
account for 43% of the 54 million people who at any given time are on the
move within Asia and to destinations outside the region. “Women often
migrate under unsafe conditions, live under very difficult circumstances,
and can be targets of sexual exploitation and violence,” Chhibber said,
adding, “With little or no access to health services and social protection,
these factors can make them highly vulnerable to HIV.” He said that an
increasing number of migrant workers from Asia who have contracted HIV in
various host countries in recent years have been deported, which causes
economic loss for the workers and their families. According to Chhibber,
“There is a need for strategic national, regional and international action
to ensure safe movement and access to HIV programs for migrants and mobile
populations.” In addition, Chhibber said that addressing the HIV
vulnerabilities of migrants is key to achieving universal access to
treatment and the U.N. Millennium Development
Goals ‘
aim of halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015.

* UNDP Releases Summary of HIV Vulnerabilities Among Migrant Women *
During the round table, an executive summary of a UNDP study — titled “HIV
Vulnerabilities Faced by Women Migrants: From Asia to the Arab States” –
also was released. According to Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP’s HIV/AIDS regional
program coordinator and practice leader, although migrant women are among
the most vulnerable to HIV, it is important to emphasize the fact that the
conditions under which people migrate — such as being separated from
families and social support systems — rather than the actual act of
migration are what make women vulnerable to contracting the virus. Wiesen
said, “Women, particularly domestic workers , are among the most vulnerable.
They experience basic rights violations, in terms of pay and conditions of
work. Many respondents reported physical violence, verbal and sexual abuse.”

Malu Marin — study coordinator and director of the nongovernmental
organization ACHIEVE, which works for migrants’ welfare in the Philippines
– said that restricting the movement of female migrants would force
migration underground and increase women’s risk of exploitation and HIV
transmission. Marin added that in some cases, domestic workers are tested
for HIV without consent and counseling and are deported if they are found to
be HIV-positive. “This needs to change in favor of a migrant-friendly
testing policy,” Marin said.

According to The Hindu, the study recommends dialogue and coordination
between ministries of health , labor, foreign affairs and social welfare in
both countries of origin and destination to reduce vulnerabilities of HIV,
as well as facilitation of multi-country negotiations between origin and
host countries. The Hindu reports that the study examines HIV-susceptibility
among female migrants from Bangladesh , Pakistan , the Philippines and Sri
Lanka to Bahrain, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates and explores ways to
address their HIV risks without compromising their right to movement and
livelihood. The study was based on research comprising more than 500
interviews over nine months using focus group discussions and key informant
interviews with migrant workers; senior officials of the ministries of
health , labor and foreign bureaus of employment; embassy officials; service
providers; and recruitment agencies in both origin and host countries (The
Hindu, 10/9).

The executive summary of the study is available
online:
http://www2.undprcc.lk/resource_centre/rcc_publications.php ..

–
Rachel M Jacobson
Program Director
Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS
www.iAIDS.org | www.youthaidscoalition.org