Migrant Workers' Rights Program: Lessons Learned 2004-2014
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DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM AFFILIATED WITH THE FACULTY OF LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES A training program for peoples of the Asia-Pacific region Migrant Workers’ Rights Program: Lessons Learned 2004-2014 A partnership between Diplomacy Training Program and Migrant Forum Asia DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM LTD The University of New South Wales UNSW SYDNEY NSW 2052 ABN 31 003 925 148 Tel: +61 (2) 9385 2277 Fax: +61 (2) 9385 1778 Email: [email protected] http://www.dtp.unsw.edu.au/ Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ 3 2. Purpose and Methodology of the Lessons Learned Report ...................................................... 8 3. Program Description .............................................................................................................. 9 3.1 Origin and Rational for DTP’s Focus on Migrant Workers’ Rights ............................................. 9 3.2 The Migrant Workers Rights Program Purpose and Objectives ................................................. 9 3.3 Course description ...................................................................................................................... 9 3.4 Trainers/Facilitators ................................................................................................................. 10 3.5 Program Participants ................................................................................................................ 10 3.6 Course Follow-Up ..................................................................................................................... 11 3.7 History of the Program’s Development and Significant Program Revisions ............................ 11 4. Reflections on Course Content, Methodology and Materials ................................................. 13 4.1 Course Curriculum Content ...................................................................................................... 13 4.2 Ideas to Update and Improve Curriculum Content .................................................................. 13 4.3 Feedback on Training Methodology ........................................................................................ 17 4.4 Training Materials ..................................................................................................................... 19 5. Reflections on Outcomes and Impacts of the Migrant Workers Program ............................... 20 5.1 Changed Attitudes and Increased Confidence ......................................................................... 20 5.2 Building Knowledge .................................................................................................................. 22 5.3 Improved Practical Skills in Lobbying and Advocacy ................................................................ 23 5.4 Alumni Challenges to Application of Knowledge and Skills ...................................................... 25 5.5 Building Networks .................................................................................................................... 26 5.6 Engaging Actors in Advocacy and Developing Links to the wider Human Rights Movement .. 29 5.7 Promotion of CMW Ratification and the application of other relevant UN and ILO Conventions to policy and practice ................................................................................................ 35 6. Perspectives on Future Directions ........................................................................................ 36 6.1 Participant Selection ................................................................................................................. 36 6.2 Priority Targets for Capacity Building – Beyond Civil Society ........................................................ 37 6.3 Trainers ..................................................................................................................................... 38 6.4 Follow-up with Alumni ............................................................................................................ 38 6.5 Program Locations .................................................................................................................... 40 6.6 Institutional Capacity ................................................................................................................ 41 6.7 Funding ..................................................................................................................................... 41 7. Conclusion and Lessons Learned ........................................................................................... 42 8. Recommendations: Priority Focus Areas ............................................................................... 43 9. Annexes............................................................................................................................... 46 Annex 1: List of Stakeholders Interviewed Annex 2: List of Trainers and Year of Training (2004- 2014) Annex 3: List of Alumni Survey Respondents Annex 4: Sample Alumni Survey Annex 5: Selected Alumni Profiles 2 1. Executive Summary This report reflects on the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) and Migrant Forum Asia’s (MFA) activities to build the capacity of advocates for the rights of migrant workers in Asia and the Middle East since 2004. Each year from 2004, DTP and MFA have organised human rights advocacy training programs for members of MFA networks and other individuals committed to promoting respect for the rights of migrant workers. What began as a shared idea and commitment, and a single program in 2004, has continued for 10 years and provided training for over 300 individuals working for migrant workers’ rights. DTP has commissioned this report to assess, and draw lessons from, the DTP/MFA collaboration on capacity building since 2004. The report draws on responses to a survey of alumni from these training programs, as well as interviews with some key stakeholders in Asia and in the Middle-East in international organisations. The surveys were conducted in early 2014. The report is an opportunity to reflect on what has worked and what has not – and to learn lessons that can be applied to future capacity building work. The report includes some recommendations. It is the first stage in a two stage reflection process for DTP and MFA. The second stage will be a workshop that will map future directions, based partly on the findings of this report. Purpose of the Partnership and Capacity Building Activities In 2004 DTP and MFA began collaborating on capacity building programs for civil society advocates focused on the human rights of migrant workers. DTP was in the process of reviewing thematic priorities for human rights capacity building in the Asia-Pacific region – to address new and emerging challenges. William Gois was recently appointed to the new role of Regional Coordinator of MFA, and was invited to present a session on the rights of migrant workers at DTP’s 14th Annual Regional Human Rights and Peoples’ Diplomacy Training Program held in Bangkok in January 2004. This was the first time DTP had included program content on these issues and the need for a dedicated capacity building program on the rights of migrant workers was discussed and agreed. The purpose was to contribute to efforts to ensure that the human rights of migrant workers and their families in, and from, Asia are properly respected, protected and fulfilled in accordance with recognised minimum international standards. The aim was also to use capacity building programs to connect advocates for migrant workers’ rights with the broader human rights movement, trade unions and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and the women’s movement. For DTP this collaboration is consistent with its mission to contribute to building the knowledge, skills and networks of human rights movements in the Asia-Pacific Region. For MFA this work is consistent with its commitments to its membership and to its vision of a world where the rights of migrant workers are realised. Beneficiaries The intended beneficiaries of these programs are the millions of migrant workers and their families who would be affected if agreed minimum human rights standards were applied to labour migration policy and practice. The most immediate targets for training are civil society advocates who have a 3 commitment to the rights of migrant workers, and who are actively engaged in relevant work. Other targets have been those working for organisations with a direct role and mandate relevant to migrant workers that have the potential to make a strategic impact and that should be part of larger efforts to secure respect for the rights of migrant workers – particularly staff of NHRIs. Underlying Assumptions Migrant workers experience a wide range of harms and human rights abuses in countries of origin, transit and destination. These abuses have been extensively documented in the reports of major human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the ILO and other UN agencies. Responding to these abuses, the approach taken by DTP/MFA makes a number of working assumptions: . That the abuses and harms would be eliminated if accepted international human rights and labour standards were universally and effectively applied to policy and practice affecting migrant workers – and progress towards implementation of these standards is likely to reduce