Manila, 19 March 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert met on 16 March 2004 with South
 African Minister of Housing Brigitte Mabandla at the sidelines of the High Level Segment of the 60th
 Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, where both ministers agreed to strengthen
 cooperation in various areas, including safeguarding the rights and welfare of migrant workers.

 Secretary Albert and Minister Mabandla were among the twenty women Foreign Ministers and other dignitaries who attended the working meeting of the informal network on “Violence against Women” on the margins of the 60th Human Rights Commission held in this beautiful Swiss city, site of the defunct League of
 Nations.

 “The Philippines attaches great importance to the rights and welfare of its migrant workers. We have an
 estimated 3.5 million women workers around the world, whose interests we are bound to promote and protect,”
 Secretary Albert said.

 In advancing the cause of Filipino migrant workers, the Secretary said that the Philippines will solicit
 the support of South Africa for the two resolutions it proposed at the 60th CHR, namely: (1) Violence Against
 Women Migrant Workers; and (2) Trafficking in Women and Girls.

 The Filipino top diplomat added that it is also necessary, at this point, to consider the “the
 appointment of a Special Rapporteur on trafficking on women and girls to ensure continued monitoring on this
 critical issue.”

 Minister Mabandla expressed support to the Philippine resolutions and on the idea of appointing a Special
 Rapporteur on trafficking on women and girls. She explained that South Africa prizes its solidarity with
 women all over the world and thus, “fully identifies itself with the concerns with the Philippines over its
 migrant workers, including the issue of illicit trafficking of women.”

 During their discussion of bilateral issues, Secretary Albert conveyed to Minister Mabandla her proposal for
 the Philippine Embassy in Pretoria to arrange a tie-up between South Africa’s Ministry of Housing and the
 Philippine Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) to exchange best practices in
 providing affordable and decent housing to the people.
 

 “We should draw in South Africa’s housing contractors as well as the Philippine Chamber of Real Estate and
 Builders Association in this project as a way of building a partnership between our two peoples,” she
 said.

 Secretary Albert also extended an invitation for Minister Mabandla to attend the Global Summit for
 Women from 26-29 May 2004 in South Korea. “This will be a welcome opportunity for South Africa to establish
 greater linkages with women’s groups in Asia, including those of the Philippines,” the Secretary
 said. END.