"One death is too many."
This was the lament of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) as it decried the brutal killing of Jullebee Ranara, 35, a Filipina migrant worker based in Kuwait.
Based on reports, the CHR said Ranara’s burnt body was found in the desert of Kuwait on Jan. 22. The primary suspect, the 17-year-old son of her employers, has already been arrested by Kuwait authorities,” it said.
"CHR joins the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in monitoring the progress of this case and echoes the calls for the swift dispensation of justice against the perpetrator,” it also said in a statement.
It lauded “the swift action of DMW, through Secretary Susan Ople, who met with Ranara’s family and guaranteed necessary assistance from the government,”
The CHR also lamented that what happened to Ranara is not an isolated case as it noted "similar alarming reports" of distressed OFWs seeking refuge in shelters and awaiting repatriation. It called on the DMW to investigate their concerns with "equally great urgency."
"It is clear that full implementation of employment standards -- including safe working conditions, timely remuneration, and protection from maltreatment -- in line with migrants’ human rights, must be demanded by the Philippines from foreign employers and other States," the CHR stressed.
To help improve the welfare and dignity of OFWs, the CHR said that “both the government and civil society should team up in creating mechanisms that would guide them should they encounter any threats to human rights. These include information sharing, access to legal aid, and quick response protocols.”
For its part, the CHR said it will enhance its coordination with other national human rights institutions (NHRIs) to provide immediate legal or financial assistance to OFWs in need of access to justice and remedies.
“CHR’s E-Lawyering Program remains open to migrants and their families for response and referral to appropriate agencies for proper action,” it said.
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