UN adopts Phl resolution on violence vs. women migrant workers- Palace

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations (UN) General Assembly recently adopted a Philippine-sponsored resolution on violence against women migrant workers, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma said the UN Assembly adopted by consensus Resolution No. 68/137 on Violence Against Women Migrant Workers last December 18, 2013.

"It urges all governments to consider permitting migrant women workers who are victims of violence to apply for residency permits independently of abusive employers or spouses, in accordance with national laws, and to eliminate abusive sponsorship systems," Coloma said in a press briefing.

Coloma said the Philippine initiative was prompted by the need to strengthen the protection of thousands of Filipina migrant workers.

He said the UN-adopted resolution calls on countries to grant gender-sensitive transparent mechanisms to women migrant workers in domestic service access for bringing complaints against employers.

These complaints include the domestic workers' termination of contract, labor and economic exploitation, sexual harassment and sexual abuse and violence.