The Migration Programme is launching Migration Feminist Participatory Action Research (Migration FPAR) for 2019-2021! The Migration programme is conducting FPAR as a way to support the organising efforts of women migrants to respond to their challenges. Over the course of the next 18 months, APWLD will host three regional trainings that encouraging partners to conduct research that relates to the women migrants’ issues and needs, provide them with tools, skills, and capacities to use findings for advocacy and build movements.
The theme of the Migration FPAR is “Amplifying Voices, Documenting Evidence, Strengthening Migrant Women’s Movements, Organising and Solidarity for Just Migration” and its overall objectives are to advance migrant women’s human rights and migrant movements in the Asia Pacific through evidence-based community research and strengthening them to be vocal and effective policy advocates for women’s human rights and also for Development Justice.
Seven grassroot organisations have been selected to participate in this FPAR project with their following brief profile:
Aaprabasi Mahila Kamdar Samuha (AMKAS), Nepal
AMKAS Nepal is an organization run and led by women migrant workers for the promotion of the rights and interests of migrant workers, especially women migrant workers, and their families. Their FPAR will be focused on the GBV faced by women when they travel from home to the destination countries, in transit places, and also access to any remedies. Through FPAR, they want to explore more of GBV en-route migration and collect the evidence as a tools to carry out the advocacy.
Aastha Parivaar, India
Aastha Parivaar (AP) is a registered federation of 12 CBOs (Community Based Organizations) aims to address six main areas of need within the sex worker’s community to create a sustainable impact; HIV and STI Intervention, Resources, Crisis Intervention, Legal Advocacy, social protection, reducing risk & vulnerability and Children. The focus issue of their FPAR is access to social protection and health services for migrant female sex workers who is working both internal migration and cross border migrants.
Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers Families – Keluarga Besar Buruh Migran Indonesia (KABAR BUMI), Indonesia
KABAR BUMI is a grassroots organization of returned migrants and the families of migrants. Prior to joining KABAR BUMI in Indonesia, many of our members were already involved with migrant’s organizations in different countries where they were working as migrant workers. Their FPAR project aims to access to justice for returnee migrant workers related confiscation of the document by Indonesian recruitment agencies.
Indonesian Migrant Workers Union in Hong Kong (IMWU-HK), Hong Kong
The Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (IMWU) is dedicated to empowering and developing the capacity of Indonesian migrant domestic workers to defend their basic rights through education, training, advocacy and campaigning, cultural activities, paralegal services, shelter references, outreaching and solidarity programs. Their specific issue for FPAR is combating illegal collection of agency fees and overcharging among Indonesian women migrant workers in Hong Kong and access to justice for the victims and families.
National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders, Nepal
National Alliance of Women Human Right Defenders (NAWHRD) is a vibrant, strong and active women’s network working from a feminist perspective. NAWHRD supports Women Human Rights Defenders working at different levels (primarily at frontline) and also supports women whose rights gets violated- especially victims of different forms of violence and further advocates for required policy changes to ensure the rights of all women, especially women from marginalized groups. Through FPAR, they want to create a mechanism for women to bring within social security scheme, living wage and to create synergic effect for women migrants’ rights who is working outside the country as well.
Public Fund for Support of Youth and Women “Danko”, Kyrgyzstan
The Danko Public Fund for Support of Youth and Women missions are overcoming legal illiteracy, combating all types of violations of the rights and interests of women and young people, as the most vulnerable segments of the population, protecting and representing their interests at all levels of government. During FPAR, they will be exploring the challenges of reintegrating women migrants after their return to their homeland. They will also supporting women movement initiatives on developing advocacy plans and opportunities for policy changes and their involvement in the regional women’s movement.
Tenaganita Women’s Force, Malaysia
Tenaganita is a Malaysian Human and Labor Rights with a vision for a just, free and democratic society where all are equal human beings with dignity and rights. It’s mission is to promote and protect the rights and dignity of all women, migrants and refugees while creating spaces collectively to achieve their full potential and liberation in a globalized world. In this FPAR, they intends to develop peer leaders cum community paralegals among migrant women workers. They also want to continue to support the building of movements of migrant communities to assert their rights as women and workers in Malaysia, especially for Filipino migrant workers.
