‘Justice is hard’: Hong Kong domestic helpers welcome rare rape conviction

One of the few successful prosecutions involving a foreign domestic worker underlines the challenges faced by migrant women in securing justice.

【Home & Away 慈善足球錦標賽2024】「球」同存異 社區共融足球賽 以支援居港難民、免遣返聲請人和人口販運倖存者

Hong Kong asylum seekers returning to blaze-hit New Lucky House denied aid over lack of ID cards

• Asylum seekers say they did not receive financial and other help given to New Lucky House fire victims
• Some help agencies say they provided aid regardless of whether victims had Hong Kong identity cards

As more illegal immigrants enter Hong Kong, spotlight shines again on asylum seekers: do they have valid refugee claims?

• Asylum seekers from as far away as Pakistan and East Africa head to mainland China, where they cross illegally into Hong Kong, sometimes in treacherous conditions
• Critics question validity of claims and efficiency of processes, with about 14,700 asylum seekers waiting to hear from city’s unified screening mechanism or appeal system

‘No one to help’: Sri Lankan migrant workers in Hong Kong lack support, face exploitation and abuse, NGOs say

• Sri Lankan women make up less than 1 per cent of foreign domestic workers and don’t have strong networks, in contrast with some other groups of helpers
• In a small community without full consular representation, Sri Lankans ‘don’t know where to get help’, NGOs say

Branches of Hope’s STOP team is thrilled to have collaborated with SCMP journalists in highlighting Gita’s story and the growing challenges faced by the Sri Lankan community of migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong. 

In our experience, economic hardships and limited job opportunities back home often leave Sri Lankan workers vulnerable to exploitation. They are frequently deceived or coerced into illegal employment arrangements, unpaid labor, and debt bondage. Fear of deportation, language & information barriers, combined with the absence of consular presence, further hinder their access to support.

While Gita’s case may not have resulted in the justice she deserved, it has only fueled her determination to speak up for her community, to warn others about the unscrupulous practices of unethical brokers, and to encourage those trapped in difficult employment situations to seek assistance. We are immensely proud and inspired by Gita’s strength and compassion.

Alongside Gita and all those who have experienced exploitation, Branches of Hope will continue our efforts to bring about positive change and strive for a future where all workers are treated with dignity and fairness.

遣送政策收緊半年 466聲請人覆核失敗被驅 – 20230730 – 港聞 – 每日明報 – 明報新聞網 (mingpao.com): Ming Pao: July 2023

PANGYAO – A Social Platform for Hong Kong’s Migrant Worker Community: Pangyao Magazine: Feb 2023