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Health is a basic human right: Filipino domestic workers’ organizing for reproductive justice

Health is a basic human right: Filipino domestic workers’ organizing for reproductive justice. Linda Oalican Leah Obias DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association. Who are we?. Membership-based and led organization Grassroots, independent, comprehensive

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Health is a basic human right: Filipino domestic workers’ organizing for reproductive justice

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  1. Health is a basic human right: Filipino domestic workers’ organizing for reproductive justice Linda Oalican Leah Obias DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association

  2. Who are we? • Membership-based and led organization • Grassroots, independent, comprehensive • Uphold & assert the rights & welfare of Filipino migrant workers • Address root causes of forced migration We envision a society where families are not forcibly separated just to meet our basic needs--a society where there is equal opportunity to have a life with decency, peace and dignity.

  3. NYWF-Catalyst Cohort Partnership: LUNAS (“healing”) Holistic Health Building women workers’ leadership, organizing & advocacy for reproductive & economic justice • Health Fairs & No-cost screenings • Peer Health Educators • Wage Theft & Recovery • Education & Organizing on Health Access • NYF Partnership: ABANTE BABAE • (“onward women”) Gender Rights & Safety

  4. CAMPAIGNS: Women workers organize for long-term change Impacting upon systemic barriers increase impact build power globally locally health is a basic human right end trafficking NY domestic workers bill of rights uphold human rights Phils. comprehensive & humane immigration reform just and lasting peace

  5. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Connecting services to worker organizing services victories • delivered free comprehensive health services and health rights trainings in the community, mobilizing approximately the following annually: • a volunteer base of 20-30 members per health fair or event; • 400 low-wage workers receiving direct services and rights trainings; • 1,000 individuals attending programs, campaign activities, legal clinics and other trainings; • and over 100 doctors, nurses, medical students, community youth and allies to donate labor, skills, time and services • ongoing comprehensive service for 6 cases of human trafficking and modern-day slavery of domestic workers; 5 were domestic workers of diplomats • adjusted immigration status for 6 workers through Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and refugee status • recovered $300,000 total in wage theft with an additional 8 ongoing wage theft cases in 2010

  6. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Connecting services to worker organizing organizing & advocacy victories 750 domestic worker and other low-wage worker members in NYC and NJ mobilized 100-250 domestic worker and other low-wage workers for the annual General Assembly every year for 7 years successfully held 7 democratic elections of the Board of Directors; elected an all-women, all-domestic workers Board for 2 straight years founding member and 2-term Coordinating Committee member of National Domestic Workers Alliance struck down diplomatic immunity of former UN Ambassador to the Philippines, Lauro Baja, in the case of trafficking and forced labor of Damayan member Marichu Baoanan founding member of NY Domestic Workers for Justice Coalition, which successfully won passage of a NY Domestic Workers Bill of Rights this year

  7. Participatory-based Research • 208 surveys; 25 in-depth interviews; 5 focus group discussions Migration • 83% graduated college or had some college education • 64% migrated for economic reasons • 38% migrated to other countries before coming to the US Work • 64% have experienced one or more wage violations • Only 12% have health insurance; 1/3 have sick days • 52% remit from 26% to 75% of income home Living conditions • 33% share a room with others in an apartment • 18% rent a room in an apartment or house • 15% live with the employer Kilusan (“movement”) Research Launch & Gala Research Report Launch & Findings  5:30 pm Gala  7 pm-10 Metro Baptist Church 410 West 40th St New York, NY

  8. Linda Oalican Leah Obias DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association www.damayanmigrants.org p: 212/564-6057 contact@damayanmigrants.org

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