About
Us
Established in 1991, Visayan Forum is
a non-governmental organisation in the Philippines focusing
on migrant working child, especially those in the invisible
and informal sector. The association is the South-East
Asian Coordinator of the Global March.
Some of the areas that it concentrates
on are works on domestic child labour, strong advocacy
on national laws against domestic child labour, and
empowerment of adult domestic workers.
Activities
1) Child Trafficking
Trafficking is a complex issue that
aggravates the already multiplying problems of children.
Recent studies have shown that such victims of illegal
trafficking fall prey to prostitution and exploitative
forms of child labour. The organisation seeks to mobilise
national efforts by providing specialised care for the
child domestic workers and trafficked children. It is
also involved in modeling community based integrated
programs that deal with the root causes of child labour,
trafficking and migration.
To curb local trafficking the organisation
has made adequate arrangements to offer 24 hours services
through a halfway house called "Balay Silungan
sa Daungan.” The services for the trafficking
victims include several features like regular outreach
for the stranded passengers, telephone counseling, training
and advocacy to coast guards, police, porters etc.
2) Campaign for Batas Kasambahay
The Magna Carta for Household Helpers
or the Batas Kasambahay, seeks to institutionalise and
uplift the minimum working parameters and standards
of the household helper industry, and strives to bring
this traditionally informal labor sector closer towards
the benefits and protection accorded by law to the more
formalised sectors of the labor force - without losing
sight of the singular peculiarities traditionally inherent
in the relationship between the employer and the household
helper.
3) Child Labor Advocacy Campaign
at the Senate
Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. spearheaded
an advocacy campaign at the Philippine Senate, 2001.
Almost 200 people participated in the activity including
guests and child labourers form various children's organisations.
The sole purpose of the campaign was to facilitate the
passage of the child labour bills and others like the
Magna Carta on Domestic Workers and Anti-Trafficking
bill.
4) Processing Center for Migrant
Working Street Children
The program proactively works towards
organising urban poor communities where people share
the responsibility of promoting and protecting child's
rights and welfare. It focuses on working children who
have no families or relatives to support them.
5) Global March
The Philippine Secretariat of Global
March Against Child Labor organised a Campaign at the
House of Representatives where many child labourers
from different organisations marched from the main gate
to the South Wing Lobby of the Congress, shouting slogans
like " We want education", and held banners
and placards to convey their message.
For more details,
please visit the website:
http://www.cwa.tnet.co.th/members/Philippines.htm
http://www.visayanforum.org
