New international law agreed to protect domestic workers 16 June 2011 Blog 16 June 2011 A new international convention to protect tens of millions of domestic workers across the world has been agreed by an overwhelming majority of governments, trade unions and employers organisations. International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 189 on Decent…
Crunch time as UK prepares for historic vote to protect domestic workers 1 June 2011 Blog 1 June 2011 The British government must stop dragging its feet and fully support a new international convention to protect domestic workers from abuse and slavery, says a coalition of charities and Trade Unions including Anti-Slavery International and Christian Aid.…
Children demand new international law to protect domestic workers 6 June 2010 Blog 6 June 2010 Child domestic workers from around the world are visiting Geneva to meet national governments and to persuade ministers on the need for a new international convention to protect domestic workers. Current and former child domestic workers from…
Migrant domestic workers dying every week in Lebanon 27 August 2008 Blog 27 August 2008 More than one migrant domestic worker a week dies in Lebanon from suicide or by accident in a desperate attempt to escape from their employers, according to Human Rights Watch. Since January 2007, 95 migrant domestic workers…
French court finds Burundi ex-minister guilty of slavery 17 September 2007 Blog 17 September 2007 On 17 September, a French court found the former Prime Minister of Burundi and his wife guilty of slavery. Gabriele Mpozagara and his wife Candide were sentenced in absentia to 12 and 15 months in prison respectively…
UK Government plans leave migrant domestics at risk of slavery 22 August 2007 Blog 22 August 2007 Migrant domestic workers’ vulnerability to exploitation and slavery — including human trafficking — will be greatly increased under UK Government’s proposed changes to the migration system. On 23 August, International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave…
Bail denied US couple enslaving domestic workers 11 June 2007 Blog 11 June 2007 A couple in New York arrested for enslaving two migrant domestic workers and indicted on federal slavery charges, was denied bail on 11 June. Varsha Mahender Sabhnani and her husband Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani were arrested on 15…
Indian Government restricts women from migrating for domestic work 29 May 2007 Blog 29 May 2007 In a worrying move, the Indian Government announced plans to prohibit women under 30 from migrating to work as domestics in an effort to tackle trafficking for sexual exploitation. The ban will apply to women seeking domestic…
Slavery trial a first for Thailand 11 May 2007 Blog 11 May 2007 For the first time Thailand’s anti-slavery law has been enforced, despite slavery being widespread and having been a criminal offence for over 50 years. On 25 April, Wipaporn Songmeesap was sentenced to seven years for enslaving a…