Submittedto:cmw@ohchr.org

Dated:29February2016

By:PathFindersLimited

Address2DWorldwideCentre,123TungChauStreet,TaiKokTsui,Kowloon,HongKongSAR

Telephone(+852)55005486

Fax(+852)23932422

Emailinfo@pathfinders.org.hk

websitewww.pathfinders.org.hk

TheCommitteeontheProtectionofRightsofAllMigrantWorkersandMembersofTheirFamilies

andTheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildfortheir

JointGeneralCommentonthe

HumanRightsofChildrenintheContextofInternationalMigration

Source:http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CMW/Pages/JointGeneralCommentonChildren.aspx

_________________________________________________________________________________

PathFinderswelcomestheinitiativeoftheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildandtheCommitteeonMigrantWorkerstodevelopaJointGeneralCommentontheHumanRightsofChildrenintheContextofInternational Migration and expresses its appreciation for the opportunity to provide the presentsubmission.

1. AboutPathFindersPathFindersisacharitythatoperatesintheHongKongSpecialAdministrationRegion,Chinaworkingto ensure that the most vulnerable children born in Hong Kong, and their migrant mothers, arerespectedandprotected.PathFindersassistsmigrantworkerswhohavebecomepregnantand/orgivenbirthtochildreninHongKong.ThemajorityofthesewomenarecurrentorformerForeignDomesticWorkers("FDWs")fromIndonesiaandthePhilippines.ForinformationaboutPathFinders,pleasevisitourwebsiteatwww.pathfinders.org.hk/public.2. ScopeofSubmissionPathFinders’submissionrelatestothehumanrightsofthefollowingcategoriesofchildreninthecontextofmigration:

- ”Childrenthatareborntoparentswhoaremigrantworkersintransitanddestinationcountries;

- Migrantchildrenthatreturntotheircountryoforigin,eithervoluntarilyorbyforce,aloneor

withtheirparents”1

1CMW-CRCJointGeneralCommentontheHumanRightsofChildrenintheContextof InternationalMigration–ConceptNote,Point4

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InHongKong,PathFindershasfoundthesechildrenarecanbeseparatedfromtheirfamilies;deported;lack access to economic, social and cultural rights, includinghealthcare and education; are subject tovariousformsofabuseorviolence;facediscriminationbasedonraceandnationality,canfaceextremeobstaclestotherighttobirthregistrationandtherightsandbenefitsthatwouldaccompanythat.Theyalsofacediscriminationandabuse/neglectintheirmother'scountryoforiginbyvirtueofbeingmixed-racechildoftenconceivedandbornout-of-wedlock;3. TheIssues

3.1Basedonourexperience,childrenborntomigrantworkersareamongthemostdeprivedbabies

andchildren inHongKong. Inthemajorityofcases,thecycleofdeprivationcanbeginwhenthemotherbecomespregnant;

3.2WhileFDWsareentitledtomaternityrightsandprotectionsundertheEmploymentOrdinanceand

access to maternal health services in Hong Kong, there is limited protection of such rights. Inpractice, when a FDW’s pregnancy is disclosed or discovered, she commonly suffers unlawfuldismissalfromheremployment,therebylosingherhome(a‘live-in’ruleappliestoemployedFDWs)income,herrighttoliveinHongKongandheraccesstoessentialpublicsupportservicesincludingmaternalhealthcare.Theunbornchildornewbornchildisthereforealsobarredfromreceivingthematernity-relatedprotectionsofferedbyHongKong’spublicwelfareandmedicalsafetynet;

3.3Evenworse,onceaFDWhasbeenunlawfullydismissedfromheremploymentduetopregnancy,itis

commonforhertooverstayheremploymentvisabecausepracticallysheistoopregnanttofly,shehasbeenfiredbutnotpaidand/orbecauseshefearsreturninghomepregnantwithamixedracechild,quiteoftenconceivedout-of-wedlock.Theunlawfully‘fired’FDWvictimoftenthenbecomesanimmigrationcriminal.Butfortheemployer’sunlawfulact,theFDWandhergrowingbabywouldstillhaveahome,anincomeandaccesstothesocialwelfaresystem.FDWswhostayinHongKongafter theiremploymentandvisahavebeen terminatedarenot legallyentitled to remain inHongKong.TheseFDWsaretypicallyprosecutedforimmigrationbreaches.Theycanbesenttojailandtheirchildrenbornthere.Thechildrenthenborntomotherswhooverstayinherittheirmothers'illegal,undocumentedstatus.Thesechildrenaredocumentedorundocumentedasshownbelow.

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3.4 Insummary,therisksforchildrenborntoFDWsinHongKongincludethefollowing:(A) Children do not exist: FDWs are often unlawfully (civil and criminal sanctions apply)

dismissed from their employment due to pregnancy. Typically, thesemothers do not havesavingsinHongKongtodealwithemergenciesandoncetheybecomeunemployed,theyareunable to affordaccommodationand food. Thesepregnantwomenare suddenlyhomelessandpenniless.Theyhavejusttwoweeksinwhichtofindanewjob,failingwhichtheyneedtoleaveHongKongbut it isvirtually impossibleforapregnantFDW(or indeedmostpregnantinterviewees)tofindnewemployment,leavingthemjobless.Herpregnancy,combinedwitha fearof returninghomepregnantwithamixedracechildoftenconceivedout-of-wedlock,oftenresultsinthemotheroverstayinghervisaandremainingillegallyinHongKong,leavingher and her child without legal identity papers, undocumented andwithout access to anywelfare services. Significantly, these children cannot access health care and are frequentlyborn outside hospital as themother fears a hospital-birth will alert the authorities to herillegal status. These children are legally non-existent. Undocumented and partiallydocumentedchildrenareatriskofhealthproblems,cannotbevaccinated,lacknurture,andarevulnerabletoabuseandhumantrafficking.

(B) Noaccesstomedicalcare: EvenifthemotherisablelegallytoremaininHongKongandistherefore considered ‘documented’, she will have no access to maternal pre-natal care.Documented former FDWswho are pregnant can only accessmedical care through publichospitalsinemergencycircumstances(suchaswhensheisinlabour).Thislackofearlyandtimely health care can be extremely risky to the unborn or newborn child and his/ hermother.

(C) Noaccess to social services: Childrenborn toFDWswhodonothaveavalidemploymentcontract, (regardless of whether they are documented or undocumented), have no legalrightstoresidencyinHongKong.TheonlyexceptiontothisiswhentheirbiologicalfatherisaChineseoraHongKongResidentand iswilling tosignat theBirthRegistry toattest to thefactthatheisthebiologicalfather.Withoutresidentialstatus,thesechildrenarenotentitled

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to receive any social security support, medical care, including basic immunisations, oreducation.

(D) Facediscrimination:ThemajorityofFDWsarefromIndonesiaandthePhilippines,countriesthat are relatively more conservative and patriarchal than Hong Kong. Indonesia is alsogenerally known tobe less supportiveofwomenunderstanding and asserting their humanrights, including reproductive rights. Rural communities in Indonesia are not accepting ortolerant of singlemothers, children born out-of-wedlock andmixed-race children (RefugeeReviewTribunal,AustralianGovernment,2010).Asaresult,ifthechildreneventuallyreturntoIndonesia/Philippines,eithervoluntarilyorbyforce,withtheirmothers,theyaretypicallysubjecttoseriousdiscriminationandbullyingbythemother’shomecommunity(Constable,2014).

4. ThesizeoftheIssue4.1 AccordingtotheImmigrationDepartmentofHongKong,thereareover340,000FDWsworkingin

HongKong,mostofwhomarefemale.AttheendofJanuary2016,roughly50%originatefromthePhilippinesand50%fromIndonesia.Themajorityofthesemigrantwomenareintheirprimereproductiveyears.Ithasbeenestimatedthatapproximatelyhalfareunmarried2;

4.2 TheHongKonggovernment,includingpublichospitals,doesnotkeepanystatisticalinformationin

relationtothenumberofFDWsbecomingpregnantand/orthenumberofchildrenborntoFDWsinHongKong;

4.3 PathFindersestimatesthereareover6,000pregnantFDWwomen,mothersandtheirchildrenin

HongKongtoday.Sinceourestablishmentin2008,PathFindershasassistedover3,330(2,100ifwe exclude one-off hotline enquiries ands referrals) pregnant FDWwomen,mothers and theirchildren. Approximately 70% of PathFinders beneficiaries have been of Indonesian nationality.Further, of the pregnant women and mothers PathFinders has assisted, approximately 60% ofthemoverstayedtheirvisas(thusbecomingundocumented)priortoapproachingPathFindersforservice.YearonyearthenumberofwomenandchildrenseekingassistancefromPathFindershasgrownaggressivelyandweservedover750beneficiariesin2015alone.

5. Recommendations:InrecognitionofthespecificationsoftheConceptNote,PathFindersrecommendsasfollows:5.1. EstablishaCommittee

It is recommended thatMember states shouldestablisha committee, ledbygovernmentbutopen to participation/submissions from other relevant stakeholders such as NGOs andacademics, with the requisite decision-making authority to develop, implement and monitorpolicies and regulations relating to children of migrants. Such a committee should receiverecognition as the primary authority on children of migrants within government and beconsultedandabletodirectpolicyacrossallsectorsofgovernment;

5.2. DevelopTime-Lines

2Wang,Hongbo.2011.TheUseofForeignDomesticHelpersinHongKong:ADiscreteAnalysis.PresentationforInternationalConferenceonSocialInequalityandMobilityinChineseSocieties:TowardsaComparativeStudy"December17,2011.

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It is recommended that governments adopting these recommendations develop clearlyarticulated time-lines so as to ensure the committees and related policies are in place in theshortest timeframespossible. Inorder immediately tobeginprotecting thesemostvulnerablechildren, basic social, civil and human rights should be extended forthwith to the babies andchildrenbeforetherequisitelegislationhasbeenpassed;

5.3. Ensure registrationandrecognitionofchildrenbornoutsideof theirmotherand/or father’s

countryoforigin3

Itisrecommendedthat:

1) Every child, including those born to migrants in Hong Kong, should be officiallyacknowledgedandprovidedwithalegalidentity;

2) Forundocumentedpregnantwomenwhogivebirthinhopsital,itisrecommendedthatthepoliceandimmigrationauthoritiesbeprohibitedfromarrestingthesewomenwhilein labourat thehospital inorder toenable thewomentobe freeof fearwhengivingbirth.Thereshouldthenbeadelayinanyarrestuntilthelivesofnewbornandmotherhavebeenconfirmedbyadoctorassufficientlymedicallystabilised;

3) Publichospitals,themostlikelyplaceforthesechildrentobeborn,shouldprovidefree/affordable access to pre- and post-natal care for themother, without discrimination,andlong-termbasicandemergencyhealthcareforthebaby,equaltothoseprovidedtothe children of documented ‘eligible’ citizens. Including immunizations. Inability toeffectpaymentonthepartofthemothershouldbedealtwiththroughseparate legalrecourseandshouldnot,atanytime,affecttheservicesprovidedtothechild.

4) Public hospitals should provide mothers with any and all necessary informationregardinghowtoregisterthebabysoastomakedocumentingthechildasefficientaspossible.The information leaflets currentlyprovidedareavailableonly inChineseandEnglishandnotanyofthekeyminoritylanguagesspokeninHongKong.WeespeciallywishtoseetranslationsintoBhasaIndonesianandTagalog;

5) Forbabiesbornoutsideahospital,thebirth investigationandregistrationprocessandthespeedofprocessingtheapplicationneedsignificantimprovementintermsofclarityandcommunication.Thecurrentregistrationperiodof2-3monthsisunacceptablyslow;

6) Forthestill-hiddenpopulationofstill-undocumentedchildreninHongKong,provideanamnestyperiodoftwelvemonthsforallparentsinHongKongtoregistertheirchildren,and/or for thechildren themselves tocome forward tobe registered,without fearof,andwithouttherebeingany,legalorotherreprisalagainstthebabiesandchildren;

7) Police and other government departments impacting migrants and their children,shouldestablishmorecommunityliaisonofficersforethnicminoritygroups;

8) Anti-childtraffickingmeasuresshouldbestrictlyimposedatallentryandexitpointstothe State in line with international best practice standards. Additional certificationshould be required to prove that all children travelling are indeed accompanied by aparentorotherproperlyauthorizedperson.Documentationcantaketheformofabirthcertificate/passportreflectingthedetailsoftheparent(s)orotherappropriateadult;

9) Provide clear, practical guidelines and policies to all stakeholders about how tosuccessfully and lawfullymanage all aspects of pregnancy, birth andmaternity. These

3Righttoaname,identity,andtoanationality(art.29CMW;arts.7,8CRC);Righttohealth(arts.28,45CMW;art.24CRC);Equalityandnon-discrimination(arts.1,7CMW;art.2CRC);Righttolifeanddevelopment(art.9,CMW;arts.6CRC);Righttoworkandprotectionfromforcedlabour,allformsofexploitation,childlabour,andchildabduction,saleortraffic(art.11CMW;art.32,34,35,36CRC)

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guidelinesmust,atalltimes,maintainthewelfareandbestinterestsofthechildattheircore.Theseshouldbelinguisticallyandculturallyinclusive.

5.4. UnderstandsizeoftheproblemGovernmentdepartmentsand theiragenciesare tocollect relevantdata toassess theneedsofthemigrantcommunityincludingthenumberofpregnanciesandthenumberofchildrenborntothisgroup.Thismayalsoincludeinformationabouttheservicessoughtbymigrantmothersandchildren, such as family planning services; maternity services; labour-related guidance, forexamplewhenawomaniswrongfullydismissedduetopregnancy;andnumberofchildrenborntomigrantwomen.Thegovernment,withthesupportofpublichospitals,shouldresearch,record,require and make publicly available longitudinal information about the number of pregnantmigrantsandthenumberofchildrenknowntobe,andhavebeen,borntothem.

5.5 ImproveSocietalSupportandremovestereotyping,prejudicesanddiscrimination4

Thereisanoveralllackofsocietalunderstandingandsupportformigrants’rights.Thisarisesfromracistattitudesandfearsthatthereareinsufficientsocialservicesresourcesandeconomicwealthto share. Theseattitudearepowerful in that they can inhibit themigrants fromunderstandingandassertingtheir rightsbut,conversely, ifmanagedthrougheducationandoutreach,pressurethegovernmentintodevelopingproperpoliciesandprogrammestocareformigrantmothersand,especially,theirbabiesandchildren.

Migrantsareoftennotawareoftheirrights,feardiscriminationorevendetention/deportationif

theyenquireabouttheirrights.Thoseresponsibleforbringingthemtotheirdestinationcountry,such as employment agencies, employers or even traffickers often ensure migrants remainunaware of their rights. The rights denied thesemigrants then affect the child, for example inHongKongmanymigrantwomen,especiallyFDWs,areunawareoftheirlegallyenshrinedrighttomaternityleaveandprotections,andthenareconstrainedbygovernment’srequirementthattheylive-in with their employers which makes both managing and taking maternity leave difficult/impossible.

5.5. Provideeducationtostakeholders5

Migrant parents, employment agencies and employers of migrants must be accurately andconstantly educated on laws related tomigrants, especially those relating to children born tomigrants. Employment agencies specifically targeting migrant workers should be required bygovernmenttoattendeducationalsessionsontherightsandobligationsofemployersofmigrantsandofmigrantemployees.Business licencesand/orapprovalbytheImmigrationDepartmentofthe migrant’s contract should be withheld pending confirmation that these agencies haveattendedandunderstandthesesessions.Migrantsshouldalsoberequiredtoattendaneducationsessionabouttheirrightsandobligationsasamigrantworkerbutthis informationcouldalsobepassed on through leaflets/brochures/websites/apps provided that such information is in alanguagethemigrantworkerunderstands.

5.6. EnsureaccesstoGovernmentServices6

Discrimination,prejudiceandlackofsocietalunderstandingandsupportofandformigrantsandtheirchildrenextendsalsotogovernmentserviceproviders, includingpublichospitalsandothergovernment departments whose front line staff are often insensitive, ignorant or unable torespondtotheneedsofthesepeople.Frontlineworkersoftenturnawaymigrantswhowanttoaccess services or make it difficult for them to understand the process to obtain services.It

4Equalityandnon-discrimination(arts.1,7CMW;art.2CRC)5Righttoeducationandprofessionaltraining(arts.30,43,45CMW;arts.28,29CRC)6Equalityandnon-discrimination(arts.1,7CMW;art.2CRC)

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isvitalthatmigrantsfeelassuredthattheirchildrenwillreceivegovernmentservices,beithealth,education,orotherwise,regardlessoftheattitudetowardsthemigrantthemselvesortheirlegalstatus.

Reducebarrierstoaccessinggovernmentservicesandunderstandingculturalsensitivitiesfacedby

pregnantmigrants ormigrants with children by providing translators and/or training front linestafftoimprovecommunicationandreducetheriskofmisunderstanding.Alsoeducatefrontlinestaffonhow/where theyareeasily able toobtain informationabout the rightsofmigrantsandtheirchildren,includingtheservicesavailabletothem.

5.7. Ensureequalitybeforethelaw7

As noted above, migrant children or children born to migrants living in destination countriesshould be equal before the law and receive the same rights and public benefits offered to thechildrenof citizens, this is toensure that thewelfareof thechild is atall timesparamountandshouldbeprovidedregardlessof the legalstatusof thechildor theparent.Governmentshouldreview barriers to the regularisation of their immigrant status, such as visa-issuance, marriagelaws, and dependency visas so as to ensurethe right to family union is taken seriously and toconsiderthefamilyasawholeinhandlingdependentvisaapplicationsfromthefamilyinthebestinterestsofthechild.

InHongKong,ifaFDWisasinglemother(orwasformerlymarriedtoaHongKongresidentbutisnow divorced), and her child has permanent Hong Kong residency status by virtue of the birthfather’sHongKongresidencystatus,themother,accompaniedbyherchild,canstillberemovedfromHongKongifthemotherlosesherownresidencystatusoroverstayshervisa.Itisthereforerecommendedthatpoliciesrelatingtochildrenofmigrantsalwaysusedeportationanddetentionasanabsolutelastresortandthatdecisionsbyimmigrationauthoritiesarealwaysmadewiththebest interests of the child as theprimary concern. Childrenwhohavebeen grantedpermanentresidency rights in a destination country, should have those rights extended to their primarycaregiver,i.e.theirmotherinmostcases.

5.8. Improvesituationuponreturntocountryoforigin8

Countriesoforiginneedtotakeresponsibility forchildrenborntotheiroverseas-basedworkersthrougheducating theirpopulationabout the rightsof their childrenand,equally as important,the dangers and challenges theymay face abroad. This is especially relevant for countries suchasIndonesia and the Philippineswheremigrantworkers are common and registeredwith theirgovernments.Thegovernmentsinthecountriesoforiginshouldcollectrelevantinformationandstatistics,suchasnumberofchildrenbornoverseastotheirnationals(whilethosenationalsworkoverseas) and who returned home with theirmothers or alone and their long-term well-being. Social welfare policies, women’s empowerment programmes and re-integrationprogrammes should be established in themigrant’s home country to assist thesemothers andchildren better to integrate into themother’s home society and to assist local communities tohave an accurate and unbiased understanding of the issues so they are better prepared towelcomethesechildren (oftenmix-racedandbornout-of-wedlock)and thechildrenareable togrowupandtothriveinasupportiveenvironment.

Pleasecontactusifyouneedfurtherinformationorclarificationinrelationtotheabove.

7Equalityandnon-discrimination(arts.1,7CMW;art.2CRC);Righttofamilylife(arts.14,17,44,CMW;arts.9,10,11,20,21,22,CRC)8Equalityandnon-discrimination(arts.1,7CMW;art.2CRC);Righttophysicalintegrity(art.10CMW;arts.19,37,39CRC);Righttofamilylife(arts.14,17,44,CMW;arts.9,10,11,20,21,22,CRC);Righttoaname,identity,andtoanationality(art.29CMW;arts.7,8CRC);Righttoanadequatestandardofliving(art.45CMW,art.27CRC)

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Wesupportyoureffortstoprotectandpromotetherightsofvulnerablechildrenandwishyoueverysuccessindoingso.Verybest,

KayMcArdle LunaChanCEO,PathFinders Deputy-CEO,PathFinders