Bandar Seri Begawan - The Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam joined the nation-wide observation of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women with a Gender and Development (GAD) webinar titled “Sis, Kamusta Ka Na?... A Gender Responsive Approach to Mental Health and Well-being of Women OFWs in Brunei Darussalam” held on Sunday, 28 November 2021.
The webinar aimed to raise awareness on the importance of mental health and well-being of women-OFWs, as well as the rights of women migrant workers, especially during this time of the pandemic.
The speakers during the webinar were professionals and experts in the field of migrant women’s rights and their state of mental health and well-being. Ms. Pacita “Bing” Fortin, a social worker by profession, and the Psychosocial Support Team Lead of the Babaeng BiyaHero Campaign of the Safe and Fair Philippines initiative, delivered a presentation on the importance of mental health and well-being of migrant workers and ways to overcome depression, anxiety and stress through psychological first aid. Ms. Fortin’s presentation also focused on the processes, do’s and don’t’s, and important factors considered when providing psychological first aid to distressed migrant workers.
Ms. Nur Judy Abdullah, Founder and Executive Director of Project Women and Girls Development, a not-for-profit social enterprise in Brunei Darussalam, discussed the rights of women migrant workers and the corresponding legal bases embodied in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the 2007 ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers and the 2018 ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. She also discussed the process of seeking help from government and non-government organizations in Brunei.
Ms. Melissa Mendizabal, Labor Attaché of Brunei PE, presented on the state of OFWs in Brunei during the 1st and 2nd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, and the support services provided by the Embassy, particularly the POLO-OWWA offices.
Women-participants to the webinar were composed mostly of semi-skilled and household service workers They expressed appreciation to the Embassy for organizing the event, noting that it elevated their awareness on the importance of knowing their rights, seeking psychological first aid when needed, and being aware of the proper procedures for reporting violence and abuse to the proper authorities.
The Embassy, in partnership with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Office, regularly conducts GAD activities that promote gender and development issues for the benefit of Filipinos in Brunei, particularly for their empowerment and enhanced productivity. END
