CARAM ASIA - Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility

Health and Human Rights of Migrant Workers in Asia was one of the important symposiums that focused on Migrant Workers in Asia at the International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) 2007. On August 22, 2007, International Labor Organization (ILO), UNICEF, CARAM-Asia, Women and Media Collective came together in a panel with the objective to highlight the necessity to address the health and human rights of migrant workers and to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect.

Brahm Press, Convenor of State of Health (SoH), CARAM Asia, shared the findings of “SoH research on Mandatory Testing” completed by CARAM Asia. The research has established that no guidelines of medical testing like pre-test and post-test counselling, informed consent, confidentiality, standardised testing procedures are followed in majority of countries. When migrant workers have no voice about taking the test or not, there is no referral system or social support for the workers in case they fail the test. CARAM Asia introduced the concept of “Migrant Friendly Testing” during the ICAAP 2007 and envisions instituting it by year 2010. Read more…

Fit for Work?