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

Linda OalicanLinda Oalican

Leah ObiasLeah Obias

DAMAYAN Migrant Workers AssociationDAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association

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.

NYWF-Catalyst Cohort Partnership: LUNAS (“healing”) Holistic Health

Building women workers’ leadership, organizing & advocacy for reproductive &

economic justice

CAMPAIGNS: Women workers organize

for long-term changeImpacting upon systemic barriers

delivered delivered free comprehensive health services free comprehensive health services and health rights trainings in the community, and health rights trainings in the community, mobilizing approximately the following annually:mobilizing approximately the following annually: a volunteer base of 20-30 members per health fair or event;a volunteer base of 20-30 members per health fair or event; 400 low-wage workers receiving direct services and rights trainings;400 low-wage workers receiving direct services and rights trainings; 1,000 individuals attending programs, campaign activities, legal clinics and other 1,000 individuals attending programs, campaign activities, legal clinics and other

trainings;trainings; and over 100 doctors, nurses, medical students, community youth and allies to donate and over 100 doctors, nurses, medical students, community youth and allies to donate

labor, skills, time and serviceslabor, skills, time and services ongoing comprehensive service for ongoing comprehensive service for 6 cases of human trafficking and modern-day slavery 6 cases of human trafficking and modern-day slavery of of

domestic workers; 5 were domestic workers of diplomatsdomestic workers; 5 were domestic workers of diplomats adjusted immigration status for 6 workers adjusted immigration status for 6 workers through Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), through Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA),

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and refugee statusViolence Against Women Act (VAWA) and refugee status recovered recovered $300,000 total in wage theft $300,000 total in wage theft with an additional 8 ongoing wage theft cases in 2010with an additional 8 ongoing wage theft cases in 2010

ACCOMPLISHMENTSConnecting services to worker organizing

750 domestic worker and other low-wage worker members 750 domestic worker and other low-wage worker members in NYC and NJin NYC and NJ mobilized 100-250 domestic worker and other low-wage workers for the annual General mobilized 100-250 domestic worker and other low-wage workers for the annual General

Assembly Assembly every year for 7 yearsevery year for 7 years successfully held successfully held 7 democratic elections of the Board of Directors7 democratic elections of the Board of Directors; elected an all-women, all-; elected an all-women, all-

domestic workers Board for 2 straight yearsdomestic workers Board for 2 straight years founding member and 2-term Coordinating Committee member of National Domestic Workers founding member and 2-term Coordinating Committee member of National Domestic Workers

AllianceAlliance struck down diplomatic immunity struck down diplomatic immunity of former UN Ambassador to the Philippines, Lauro Baja, in of former UN Ambassador to the Philippines, Lauro Baja, in

the case of trafficking and forced labor of Damayan member Marichu Baoananthe case of trafficking and forced labor of Damayan member Marichu Baoanan founding member of NY Domestic Workers for Justice Coalition, which founding member of NY Domestic Workers for Justice Coalition, which successfully won successfully won

passage of a NY Domestic Workers Bill of Rightspassage of a NY Domestic Workers Bill of Rights this year this year

ACCOMPLISHMENTSConnecting services to worker organizing

83% graduated college or had some college education83% graduated college or had some college education 64% migrated for economic reasons64% migrated for economic reasons 38% migrated to other countries before coming to the US38% migrated to other countries before coming to the US

MigrationMigration

WorkWork 64% have experienced one or more wage violations64% have experienced one or more wage violations Only 12% have health insurance; 1/3 have sick daysOnly 12% have health insurance; 1/3 have sick days 52% remit from 26% to 75% of income home52% remit from 26% to 75% of income home

Living conditionsLiving conditions 33% share a room with others in an apartment33% share a room with others in an apartment 18% rent a room in an apartment or house18% rent a room in an apartment or house 15% live with the employer15% live with the employer

208 surveys; 25 in-depth interviews; 5 focus group discussions208 surveys; 25 in-depth interviews; 5 focus group discussions

Participatory-based Research

Research Report Launch & Findings  5:30 pm Gala  7 pm-10Metro Baptist Church 410 West 40th St New York, NY