On 8 March, the 113th International Women’s Day, Amnesty International Nepal, Aaprabasi Mahila Kamdar Samuha (AMKAS) some youth-based organizations and other educational institutions hosted a public event at the premises of Kal Bhairav temple in Basantapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu. The theme of the event was “Domestic Work is Decent Work”. The event was participated by hundreds of people including activists from the host organizations as well as the members of the public.
The program started with a flash mob performance by the members of AI Nepal’s Kathmandu University Youth Network. The performance drew the attention of a large crowd of people, including tourists, bystanders, and the locals of the area. The flash mob performers wore an apron that carried the messages of gender equality, dignity of all, and respect for domestic work.
After the flash mob, a street drama highlighting the link between migration and trafficking was performed. It showed how people, including both men and women, can fall prey to different forms of human trafficking while the foreign labor migration process is screwed up by unscrupulous individuals and agencies. Then followed a public quiz contest with some very basic questions relating to Nepal’s law and policies on foreign labor migration, domestic work, human trafficking and safe migration.
The event also had a street fest set-up where returnee women migrant workers showcased and sold their homemade products. There were art exhibitions, food and face painting stalls, information booths with IEC materials to keep the audience engaged and informed.
During the program, chair of AMKAS Ms. Puspa Thapa shed light on the importance of women migrant workers to the family, community, and nation, while Ms. Bijaya Rai Shrestha, the director, highlighted the importance of women workers, especially domestic workers, and demanded the Nepal government ratify ILO Convention 189.
Speaking at the event, the director of Amnesty International Nepal Mr. Nirajan Thapaliya said that while it was not easy for aspiring men to go for employment overseas, it was almost impossible for women due to the restrictive policy of the government, and urged to completely lift of the current restrictions on women migrant workers, so they would be able to exercise their right to freedom including to choose the occupation of their choice, freedom of movement, and the right against unemployment.
Preceding the 8 March event, AI Nepal and AMKAS had jointly issued a Press Release urging the Government of Nepal to respect women’s right to safely migrate for work of their choice and ensure decent working conditions for them abroad.