MESSAGE

The Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) is pleased and honored to extend its greetings and congratulations to Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) on the occasion of its tenth year anniversary, to be celebrated in February 2006. For the last 10 years DAWN has been assisting hundreds of Filipino women migrants in distress, making a difference in a country marked by social wounds and economic inequalities.

Since its inception, DAWN has been devoting itself to help the unwilling victims of the overseas entertainment industry, especially those who had worked in Japan . With courage and valor, DAWN has consistently denounced modern trends of human trafficking. Its advocacy in this area has been critical in the passage of the 2003 anti-trafficking law in the Philippines . Also, the role of DAWN in recent changes in Japan 's policy towards foreign entertainers, which aims to assure more protection to Filipino entertainers, should be fairly recognized. DAWN has successfully organized and undertaken meaningful reintegration programs, empowering former entertainers and their children. Such programs have resulted in sustainable livelihood projects, which can serve as a model for similar initiatives.

As one of the founding member of the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch , DAWN has been defending and promoting the rights of Filipino migrants both in the Philippines and overseas, through unceasing advocacy work. As the president of PMRW , Ms. Carmelita G. Nuqui, DAWN's executive director, has been calling attention to the gender dimension of modern human mobility.

The world of migration is by definition an ever-changing world. Globalization and neo-liberalistic economies continually pose new challenges to the defense and promotion of the rights of the migrants. DAWN has been and will always be in the front line of advocacy and concrete action to provide an effective response to all these challenges. Thanks DAWN .

Mabuhay! God bless you,

Fabio Baggio
Vice-President