The Philippine Migrants
Rights Watch (PMRW) is pleased and proud to bring together
our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), their families,
and migrant advocates from the civil society, government
and private sectors, for this momentous event.
The search for greener pastures has driven millions
of Filipinos to work abroad. Government statistics shows
that as of 2002, the overseas Filipino population has
increased to 7.58 million, distributed in 197 countries.
One of the developments of this phenomenon is the emergence
of migrant associations and organizations as well as
NGOs oriented to promote Filipino migrants’ welfare.
At the same time, NGOs and advocates like PMRW also
arose to advance the rights and welfare of migrants
in the homeland. Distance, lack of resources and the
sheer weight of issues that we deal with on a day-to-day
basis are major obstacles in coming together. Thus,
we are pleased that we finally could hold this World
Conference of OFWS. During this three-day gathering,
we hope to touch base with each other, to dialogue,
to review what has been done, and to plan our next course
of action.
Our OFWs are renowned for their skills in the international
labor market. We at PMRW believe that our OFWs have
to be involved in up drawing national transnational
migration policies and programs. Thus, we have provided
them with this remarkable opportunity in this Conference
to share their views, insights and recommendations on
issues which directly concern them and their families.
PMRW conducted several preparatory activities to gather
inputs for this Conference. The foreign missions of
receiving countries which host our OFWs participated
in a series of roundtable discussions (RTDs) to share
their views about migration-related issues. Between
July and September, PMRW organized four RTDs by region:
Europe, Americas and Oceania, Asia, and the Middle East.
Titled, “The Migration Process: Detecting Problems
and Identifying Solutions,” the RTDs turned out
to be enriching as foreign missions provided relevant
views and insights during the thematic discussions on
documentation requirements, visa application process,
migration policies, and unauthorized migration and trafficking.
Also part of the intensive preparation was the conduct
of a PMRW study on the pre-migration experiences undertaken
by one of our member-organizations, the Scalabrini Migration
Center (SMC). The results of the study were presented
in dissemination-cum-forum last November 12. A final
report, including the proceedings of the said forum,
has been completed and will be used in coming up with
concrete actions to ensure a safer environment for OFWs
at the pre-departure stage.
We sincerely thank the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung who
has been our constant partner in pursuing this endeavor,
beginning from day one of our intensive preparation
for this event.
Likewise, I personally wish to commend the efforts
of our member-organizations who, in one way or another,
have shared their resources and means and have worked
together to make this event possible.
Indeed, the World Conference of OFWs is intended to
be a collaborative project. PMRW only serves as an instrument
in bringing advocates together so that we can all move
forward. From this initiative, we hope to reap more
remarkable results through the continuous cooperation
and support of our fellow advocates in the Philippines
and across the globe.
May this be the start of more fruitful partnerships
for the protection and promotion of the rights of our
Filipino migrants.
Mabuhay ang ating mga OFWs!
CARMELITA G. NUQUI
President |
