Friday, November 30, 2012

Parliament Day - 215 Million Reasons to support Migrant Workers


215 Million Reasons... The Rights of Migrant Workers & their Families

Campaign for Australian Government to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrants’ Workers Convention


The Australian Migrant and Refugee Women’s Alliance (AMaRWA) is partnering with other Human Rights networks and unions to ratify The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrants Workers and Members of Their Families in supporting the 215 million migrant workers’ and their families (2009 United Nations International Migration Report) as each and every migrants’ rights needs to be protected.

On October 1 2011, a coalition of civil society groups (including NIRWA our lead agency and The Human Rights Council of Australia) and global groups launched a renewed call for Australia to ratify the International Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families ("the Migrant Workers Convention").

Chair, Vivi Germanos-Koutsounadis is showing her support for the ratification of the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families. Vivi opened the event at Parliament House.


On November 28th, NIRWA Inc together with the Australian Migrant and Refugee Women's Alliance (AMaRWA) and their partner organisation, Asian Women at Work and the Migrant Workers Task Force joined together in solidarity to support the ratification of the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families.


The Women arriving on the Lawns of Parliament House


200+ Migrant Women traveled from Sydney to stand together on the lawns outside of Parliament House to share their stories - it was a truly inspirational and moving day as they spoke of their exploitation, discrimination and the conditions they are working in.


Vivi Germanos-Koutsounadis opening the day and welcoming all the women who gave up a day of their pay to attend Parliament Day in Canberra.



We will continue working towards the ratification of the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families and will keep you informed of all upcoming events.  

The NIRWA Team