MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang praised the adoption of a resolution on violence against women migrant workers by the United Nations General Assembly, which was initiated by the Philippines.

The Palace said it was “pleased” by its adoption last December 18, and that the resolution “was prompted by the need to extend protection to thousands of Filipina migrant workers.”

In a statement, Malacañang on Thursday, December 2 said the resolution “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.”

The resolution also “calls on all countries to grant women migrant workers in domestic service access to gender-sensitive transparent mechanisms for bringing complaints against employers” which includes termination of their contract, in case of labor and economic exploitation, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse and violence.

In an earlier statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines worked with Indonesia on the biennial resolution, with the goal to protect the right of women migrant workers, and to stress the need for shared responsibility of all stakeholders “in particular countries of origin, transit and destination.”

The resolution had 53 co-sponsors from across the world. – Rappler.com