United Nations, Geneva, 15 March 2004 – Pushing the activist agenda of the Arroyo Administration on
 women’s issues, Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert today joined a historic meeting of 24
 women foreign ministers and senior officials and took the lead on the issue of women migrant workers.  The
 meeting of the 24 lady ministers and senior officials was organized by Swiss Foreign Minister
 Micheline-Calmy Rey and met at the sidelines of the High Level Segment of the 60th Session of the
 Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Geneva.

 “This is a momentous occasion.  At a time of great challenge, the women ministers and senior officials
 from developing and developed nations, from sending and receiving states, have agreed to establish an
 informal network and to issue a landmark declaration strongly condemning all forms of violence against
 women.  I took up the cudgels for women migrant workers and succeeded in ensuring their inclusion in
 the declaration,” the Secretary said.

Secretary Albert’s advocacy on behalf of women migrant workers was acknowledged when she was appointed as the group’s spokesperson for women migrant workers’ rights during the press conference following the meeting. “This was an unexpected honor, but one that I accept on behalf of all Filipino women all over the world,” Secretary Albert said.

 At the press conference held after the informal meeting, Secretary Albert reaffirmed the commitment of
 lady ministers that women are entitled to the equal enjoyment and protection of all human rights and
 fundamental freedoms in all fields of endeavor. She stressed that the enjoyment of basic human rights
 includes a life free from violence.

 Speaking on behalf of the group of women ministers and senior officials, Secretary Albert said that migrant
 workers from developing countries are particularly vulnerable, and that the informal group “has expressed
 deep concern over continuing reports of grave abuses and acts of violence perpetrated against women migrant workers by some employers in their host countries.” She also called on all States which have not done so, to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the
 Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. END