Philippine Women Centre of B.C.
Press Release

Studies finds violence against women and off-street prostitution urgent issues in the Filipino community

February 6, 2007

(VANCOUVER, B.C.) - Recently completed studies by a local advocacy group of Filipino women reveals violence against women and off-street prostitution are urgent issues in the Filipino community. The group’s research findings will be presented in a BC-wide consultation, “Making the Filipino Community Count in BC” this Saturday, Feb. 10, 2006 at the YWCA (535 Hornby St.) in Vancouver from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  (Please see attached program details.)

“Anti-women and racist policies of the Canadian government leave Filipino women vulnerable to all kinds of abuse,” says Marilou Carrillo, Chairperson of the Philippine Women Centre of B.C., the host organization.  “Our studies have shown that the physical, emotional, mental, and socio-economic violence our women suffer occur not only on the personal level, but in fact affect our whole community systemically,” she says. 

According to Carrillo, the violence described by women can be linked to policies like the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) that, “perpetuates Filipino women’s modern-day slavery and shackles them into a web of poverty, debt, and socio-economic isolation as immigrant women and migrant workers.”

An estimated 65% of the over 70,000 Filipinos in B.C. are women, mainly coming under the LCP as live-in caregivers or domestic workers. 

“Academic research shows that these women suffer from long-term downward occupational mobility as they continue to do domestic work as housekeepers and home care workers,” stated Carrillo.  She said Filipino women make only 52% of the median income of women in Vancouver.

The group’s study also exposes the number of Filipino women engaged in off-street prostitution, many of whom are current or former live-in caregivers in need of additional income to support themselves and their families in the Philippines. 

“This study reveals the long-term devastating impacts the LCP has on our women,” says Carrillo. “But unlike the position of some women’s organizations who call for legalization of prostitution as a way of protecting the women, we call for comprehensive systemic changes in government immigration, accreditation and other policies as the only way to break the cycle of poverty and violence that many Filipino women face,” she adds.

The consultation comes after similar consultations held earlier in Montreal and Toronto and is expected to gather 100 Filipinos from across B.C. and Canada. Besides the issues of Filipino women facing violence and trafficking, the conference will also tackle issues of chronic poverty in the Filipino community, the use of cheap immigrant labour and the Live-in Caregiver Program will also be tackled through testimonials and speeches from Filipino youth, women, professionals and migrant workers.

The media is welcome to attend the Saturday program.

-  30 –

For more information, please contact: Sheila Farrales at 604-215-1103 or pwc@kalayaancentre.net