Episode 1: Fostering feminist movements to advance women’s human rights across Asia and the Pacific
By Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development
Episode 1: Fostering feminist movements to advance women’s human rights across Asia and the PacificDec 17, 2021
Episode 2: Fostering feminist movements to advance women’s human rights across Asia and the Pacific
Pakistan, which was already grappling with political and economic turmoil, has been thrown into the front line of the human-induced climate crisis where more than 1,100 people have died from the floods since mid-June 2022, nearly 400 of them were children, while millions have been displaced. A lack of hygiene facilities and clean drinking water has exacerbated the risk of diseases spreading in flooded areas, with nearly 20,000 people in need of critical food supplies and medical support.
In this regard, Azra Sayeed, Roots for Equity shares the demands of women from the government and international institutions on how these issues can be addressed and how we can advance accountability to the peoples.
Struggle for Life, Women’s Human Rights and the Planet
APWLD presents the podcast series “Struggle for Life, Women’s Human Rights and the Planet” as support to the struggles of our sisters in Sri Lanka and Pakistan experiencing extreme impacts of the debt and climate crisis. On this first instalment (of the two-part series), we recorded a very meaningful conversation with Lakmali Hemachandra, a trade union lawyer in Sri Lanka to talk about women’s human rights, food security, labour rights, social protection and economic justice in Sri Lanka, while highlighting the importance of debt cancellation, ending austerity measures and demanding Development Justice.
The podcast reveals that during the economic crisis like in Sri Lanka, women bear the brunt most. Listen to Lakmali’s response on how women encounter these issues looking from the intersectional approach, the challenges they experience, and their recommendations on how to address the crisis.
The importance of ending gender-based violence at the workplace and at home for home-based workers
According to many research, home-based women workers are more likely to experience workplace harassment and violence from their employers. How do home-based workers deal with these problems? What obstacles do they have in addressing GBV, how might ILO Convention No. 190 and Recommendation No. 260 be used, and what are some other organising strategies to put a stop to GBV at their place of employment?
In this episode, APWLD invites Ume Laila Azhar, a women's rights defender and a leader of the Homenet Pakistan. Ume tells us the structural barriers for home-based women workers to address the GBV in their workplace, including how the conventional labour force doesn't recognise their work and their home as a workplace. Ume also shares the devastating story of a woman who suffered because of GBV. There is such an ideal situation, but there is hope to hold, said Ume, to persist the ILO Convention No. 190 being ratified and implemented in many countries.
Behind the Seams: Championing Workers' Safety in the Garment Sector
In this episode, APWLD invites Dian Septi, a women's rights defender and leader of the Indonesian Federation of United Trade Unions from Indonesia. Dian narrated the women workers' challenges in the garment sectors who suffered from precarious working conditions, low wages, long working hours, and limited access to social protection. Worker safety and occupational health are also a concern, as some factories do not have proper safety measures. Dian also shared examples of vulnerable women workers who often experience gender-based violence in and outside the workplace as a manifestation of structural problems. Even though fighting for their right to decent working conditions and freedom of association is challenging for women, Dian emphasizes the importance of continuing on building women's capacity to create solidarity and collective power and to campaign for the urgency of #RatifyC190 in Indonesia.
#RatifyC190 5th Episode: Policy Advocacy pushes to ratify C-190, a story from Kyrgyzstan
During the labour week, we interviewed Adzhieva Eliza Shamilevna of the Women Support Center from Kyrgyzstan who was part of the Central Asia Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) 2019-2021. During her journey, she discovered that domestic violence and suicidal attempts by women were not isolated from the violence in the workplace. During the pandemic, domestic violence increased by 65% higher than before, similar to the trend of gender-based violence (GBV) in the workplace. Moreover, ILO Convention No. 190 also acknowledges domestic violence should be combated as an international labour standard.
Eliza reminded us about how power is related to violence so women with less power are prone to violence and harassment. Elisa is one of the feminists who brings the issues from ground reality to the policy-level discourse. Kyrgyz Republic is one of the countries currently preparing the ratification of C190 to be a national legal framework for addressing GBV at the workplace in the country.
#RatifyC190 to end gender -based violence against seasonal and agricultural workers in Uzbekistan
Khurshida Ibrahimova of the Center for Social and Legal Support of Women and Children from Mehrzhon, Uzbekistan talks about gender-based violence against seasonal and agricultural workers in the region during her participation in Central Asia Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR). To prevent such violations, their organisation conducts advocacy campaign providing legal knowledge to grassroots women focusing on the ratification of CEDAW and the Uzbekistan Government convention.
Khurshida continously calls to #RatifyC190Now to protect women in the work place and to guarantee job security of women workers without any fears and violations.
This podcast is hosted by Vanita Raghuvanshi.
Episode 3 #RatifyC190 | Continuing the Discourse: Unpacking Gender-based Violence in the Entertainment Sector
Listen to the third episode of the #RatifyC190 APWLD podcast series today!
In this episode, Neha Gupta interviews Manila Shakya of Women Forum for Women in Nepal to discuss gender-based violence prevalent among women workers in the entertainment sector.
Women workers in the entertainment sector are strongly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic making them vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV). We discussed the types of harassment and assault women entertainment workers experience, their efforts to end GBV, and the urgency of C190 ratification.
“Women workers in the entertainment sector are unaware of the labour laws or policies for their benefit. People should organise and educate themselves about GBV at the workplace and C190. We should put pressure on the government to ratify C190. Workers who are aware of C190 should negotiate with the owners about the rights they should give in the workplace agreement,” said Manila.
Episode 2 #RatifyC190 | Continuing the discourse: Unpacking GBV in Special Economic Zones
Listen to the second episode of the #RatifyC190 APWLD podcast series today! In this episode, Vanita Raghuvanshi interviews Farhana Afrin Tithi from Karmojibi Nari, Bangladesh to speak about gender-based violence in workplaces and the results of their Feminist Participatory Action Research #FPAR on Special Economic Zones and Women's Labour Rights in 2020 - 2022 under the Labour programme.
“We found from our FPAR that there is no space for women to demand and complain about [the violation of] their rights,[and that] all committees are not effective and have been selected by the employers, and [that] TUs are banned in EPZs. In this regard, there is no justice available for women workers who experience GBV.”
ILO noted that sexual harassment is “common across regions, and has remained unchanged over the years.”
This episode presents cases of how International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and International Investment Agreements (IIAs) through SEZs as a workplace create an environment where sexual violence can pervade women workers, and discusses how ILO C190 and R260 can be of use to protect women workers in SEZs from violence and harassment.
#RatifyC190Now
Episode 1 #RatifyC190: Our starting point: How GBV adversely affects women’s access to decent work and labour rights?
In the 1st episode of #RatifyC190Now podcast series, Neha Gupta interviews Daisy Arago, Executive Director of the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR), Philippines, where Daisy talks about the ways in which Gender Based Violence (GBV) contributes to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination women workers experience. She also highlights that women workers don't enjoy the right to organise as one of the fundamental labour right and that women workers are mostly exposed to GBV, simply because they are not organised. She also shares what we can do to eliminate GBV at all workplaces, including creating public support to call on the governments to ratify ILO Convention No. 190 on GBV.
“Empowering women migrant workers against gender-based violence in their migration journey“ Interview with Manata Sadykova, DANKO, Kyrgyzstan
***TRIGGER WARNING***
This Episode includes references to rape and physical and sexual violence. Listeners discretion advised.
To commemorate the International Migrants Day, APWLD together with the Migration Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) partners are launching a podcast series. In this series, the amazing Migration FPAR young researchers representing seven organisations in Nepal, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia will take you inside their two year FPAR journey sharing the challenges faced by the women migrants’ community, and the role FPAR played in their organising to challenge systemic barriers and bring change for and within their communities.
In Episode 7, Manata Sadykova, DANKO, Kyrgyzstan shares lived experiences of abuse, sexual violence, and other gender-based violence that women migrant workers face during their migration journey to seek work in other countries. She also shares the role FPAR has played in her life and community to empower women to organise and mobilise and demand better protection mechanisms for women migrant workers.
To know about FPAR and APWLD's work, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
“The dream to end overcharging and exploitation” Interview with Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, IMWU, Hong Kong
To commemorate the International Migrants Day, APWLD together with the Migration Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) partners are launching a podcast series. In this series, the amazing Migration FPAR young researchers representing seven organisations in Nepal, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia will take you inside their two year FPAR journey sharing the challenges faced by the women migrants’ community, and the role FPAR played in their organising to challenge systemic barriers and bring change for and within their communities.
In Episode 6, Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, IMWU, Hong Kong shares her experience of facing abuse as a migrant worker in Hong Kong, She also talks about the role FPAR played in enabling her to reach out to other women migrant workers and help mobilise them to demand an end to exploitation and human rights violation of migrant workers.
This Episode is in Bahasa Indonesia, but you can follow the English transcription at https://apwld.org/podcast-series-a-glimpse-into-two-journey-of-migration-fpar-partners/
To know about FPAR and APWLD's work, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
“Fighting Behind Closed Doors - Domestic Workers’ Rights in Malaysia” Interview with Azura, Tenaganita, Malaysia
To commemorate the International Migrants Day, APWLD together with the Migration Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) partners are launching a podcast series. In this series, the amazing Migration FPAR young researchers representing seven organisations in Nepal, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia will take you inside their two year FPAR journey sharing the challenges faced by the women migrants’ community, and the role FPAR played in their organising to challenge systemic barriers and bring change for and within their communities.
In Episode 5, Azura, Tenaganita, Malaysia talks about migrant domestic workers in Malaysia, who do not have have any legal protection or recognition as workers and hence cannot enjoy basic labour rights and face multiple forms of abuse and violence. She also shared the power of FPAR tools in helping community mobilise and demand a separate legislation for the rights of domestic workers, especially migrant domestic workers.
To know about FPAR and APWLD's work, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
“Fight for an equal society where migrant domestic workers are being recognised” Interview with Aayushi Bam, NAWHRD, Nepal
To commemorate the International Migrants Day, APWLD together with the Migration Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) partners are launching a podcast series. In this series, the amazing Migration FPAR young researchers representing seven organisations in Nepal, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia will take you inside their two year FPAR journey sharing the challenges faced by the women migrants’ community, and the role FPAR played in their organising to challenge systemic barriers and bring change for and within their communities.
In Episode 4, Aayushi Bam from NAWHRD, Nepal talks about the lack of decent work or living wages for women domestic workers and the disproportionate and devastating impact COVID-19 has had on women migrant workers. She also shares about the powerful role FPAR has played in working with the community of women migrant workers to gather evidence on the systemic barriers impacting their human rights and the resulting advocacy.
This Episode is in Nepali, but you can follow the English transcription at https://apwld.org/podcast-series-a-glimpse-into-two-journey-of-migration-fpar-partners/
To know about FPAR and APWLD's work, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
"Organise returnee migrants workers to fight against document confiscation by recruitment agencies” Interview with Poniyati, Kabar Bumi, Indonesia
To commemorate the International Migrants Day, APWLD together with the Migration Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) partners are launching a podcast series. In this series, the amazing Migration FPAR young researchers representing seven organisations in Nepal, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia will take you inside their two year FPAR journey sharing the challenges faced by the women migrants’ community, and the role FPAR played in their organising to challenge systemic barriers and bring change for and within their communities.
In Episode 3, Poniyati, Kabar Bumi, Indonesia shares the experiences of migrant workers who are forced to surrender their personal documents to recruitment agencies when they wish to travel abroad to seek work. She also shares the important role FPAR played in reaching out to community to increase awareness about their right to personal documents.
This Episode is in Bahasa Indonesia, but you can follow the English transcription at https://apwld.org/podcast-series-a-glimpse-into-two-journey-of-migration-fpar-partners/
To know about FPAR and APWLD's work, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
“Sex workers are workers! They should enjoy equal rights” Interview with Seema Sayyed, Aastha Parivaar, India
To commemorate the International Migrants Day, APWLD together with the Migration Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) partners are launching a podcast series. In this series, the amazing Migration FPAR young researchers representing seven organisations in Nepal, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia will take you inside their two year FPAR journey sharing the challenges faced by the women migrants’ community, and the role FPAR played in their organising to challenge systemic barriers and bring change for and within their communities.
In Episode 2, Seema Sayyed, Aastha Parivaar, India talks about the challenges migrant sex workers face in India, where sex work is illegal, and often the women do not have legal protection or access to public services. She also shares the experience of her organisation and young feminist researcher working with the community through FPAR despite the challenges presented by COVID-19. While FPAR provided the community tools to mobilise and advocate for their demands, she believes this is just the beginning and there is more work to do!
This Episode is in Hindi, but you can follow the English transcription at https://apwld.org/podcast-series-a-glimpse-into-two-journey-of-migration-fpar-partners/
To know about FPAR and APWLD's work, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
"We need protection, not restrictions on the freedom of movement” Interview with Amira Subba, AMKAS, Nepal
To commemorate the International Migrants Day, APWLD together with the Migration Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) partners are launching a podcast series. In this series, the amazing Migration FPAR young researchers representing seven organisations in Nepal, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia will take you inside their two year FPAR journey sharing the challenges faced by the women migrants’ community, and the role FPAR played in their organising to challenge systemic barriers and bring change for and within their communities.
In Episode 1, Amira Subba, of Aaprabasi Mahila Kamdar Samuha (AMKAS) or the Returnee Women Migrant Workers’ Group, Nepal talks about the increasingly restrictive policies by Nepal government on movement of women migrant workers and the resulting increase in human rights violations of these workers. She also talks about her experience of working with community to conduct FPAR, the challenges COVID-19 presented and the impact of FPAR in mobilising women to demand changes from their government.
This episode is in Nepali, but you can follow the English transcription at https://apwld.org/podcast-series-a-glimpse-into-two-journey-of-migration-fpar-partners/
To know about FPAR and APWLD's work, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Teaser: #RatifyC190Now and Impact of Gender Based Violence at Workplaces
Gender-based violence (GBV) is pervasive, including in the workplaces, and it must end with zero-tolerance and accountability to survivors/victims. In June 2019, ILO C190 and R260 were adopted as a result of the long fighting journey of women workers, trade unions and feminist activists. For the first time, violence and harassment in the world of work are covered in the international labour standards, which provide a global framework to prevent and eliminate workplace violence and harassment as well as access to remedy to the victims/survivors. Since the adoption of C190 and R206, formal collective demands have spiralled out from many feminist groups and trade unions for governments to #RatifyC190.
129 out of 135 countries voted on the adoption of the ILO Convention No. 190 (C190) and Recommendation No. 206 (R206) concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work in 2019. Until today, the ratification rate is very low, especially in Asia and the Pacific. Globally, only five countries have ratified the Convention. Only one country, Fiji, from Asia and the Pacific region ratified the Convention. Ironically, the Convention is not even ratified in the countries where many women workers who experience violence at work are based. For instance, 80 percent of surveyed garment women workers in Bangladesh have witnessed and experienced sexual harassment and violence at the workplace.
APWLD organised the solidarity protest “Workers Run the World” on May Day along with members, partners and other allies. In order to continue our campaign in amplifying stories and demand of women workers to end gender based violence, APWLD is launching #RatifyC190Now podcast series in 2022 with a call “End GBV in all forms at workplace and everywhere”.
This episode is a teaser of the upcoming podcast series: "#RatifyC190Now".