Promoting social services for migrant women

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thanh Hoa made the statement at a seminar in Hanoi on April 21.

The seminar was held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as part of an inauguration ceremony for the Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN).

It aims to realise the ASEAN leaders’ declaration on social welfare and development related to the rights of ASEAN women and children and identify dangers and challenges facing migrant women. It also shared successful examples and helped to build a network for providing social services for migrant women.

Hoa said Vietnam is an active member of the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW). It has cooperated with other ASEAN countries in drafting ASEAN documents on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, including women.

The Nationality Law has been revised to support and ensure the rights of nationality and citizenship for women who get married to foreigners, as well as enhancing communications to raise public awareness and to avoid risks related to emigrants, Hoa added.

Delegates agreed that domestic and international migration is common in many countries around the world, particularly in the current process of international integration.

Migration has brought about many advantages for the development process including knowledge, skills, income and various other benefits for emigrants. However, there are still challenges and risks for emigrants if it is not managed well, such as human trafficking, overexploitation and abuse.

Participants proposed solutions for promoting social services for migrant women, and strengthening cooperation networks and partnerships among the ASEAN Women Committee, AWEN, UNHCR and relevant agencies to protect the rights of migrant women throughout the region.