We are Leading the Way in Championing the Voices of Migrant DWs Across Asia-Pacific
The International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) has once again been honored with an international recognition. This time, it is the ‘Care Champions’ award, presented by the United Nations to initiatives that have made outstanding contributions to advancing care economy policies across Asia-Pacific. Under the ‘Partnership Architects: Building Bridges for Care’ category, the IDWF received this token of appreciation for advocating for the rights and protections of women migrant workers in the region.
Our leader Sonia George, a member of the IDWF Executive Committee representing Asia and the National Vice President of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA, India), accepted the award during the 2024 Asia-Pacific Care Champions event, held at the UN Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review, on November 21 in Bangkok, Thailand. This special event was hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and UN Women, with the support of the Global Alliance for Care, in collaboration with Oxfam and the World Bank.
The session celebrated over 25 champions from governments, civil society, the private sector, development partners, and other stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific region, who have made transformative contributions to the visibility and empowerment of care workers, as well as to the building of resilient and inclusive care systems. These champions are at the forefront of driving transformative change, setting examples of best practices, and inspiring others to take bold actions that contribute to the broader goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Care work is a major driver of migration in and from Asia-Pacific. However, as the world approaches the 30th anniversary of the historic Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, social justice and the full realization of human rights remain elusive for migrant domestic workers in the region. Often excluded from labor laws and social protection, affected by discriminatory migration policies, and frequently exploited and subjected to various forms of abuse by recruiters and employers—including forced labor and even trafficking—migrant domestic workers are the most vulnerable group within the domestic work sector.
The IDWF and its affiliates in Asia have a long history of fighting for decent work and a dignified life for more than 38 million domestic workers, nearly a quarter of whom are migrants. This UN recognition fills us with pride and happiness, as it confirms that we are on the right path and inspires us to continue moving forward with the conviction that a better future is possible for the women who care for societies and fuel economies across Asia-Pacific.
“Domestic workers should be explicitly recognized as care workers, as part of the care workforce, and as care providers, covered by national labor laws and social protection. Care is not a commodity: it’s a public good. And it’s a responsibility of the society to recognize the contribution of domestic workers to the economy. Our voices must be represented in decision-making spaces on the care economy, because domestic work is care work.”
Sonia George, IDWF’s ExCo member and SEWA’s Vice President
