A NEW programme is underway to allow undocumented children of Filipino women living in Bahrain to return home.
Launched by the Philippines Embassy, the Oplan Kabataan (Cause for Youth) Project aims to assist in the repatriation of more than 50 undocumented children born out of wedlock to Filipino women in Bahrain.
Documents
The embassy has already processed documents for two Filipino women and their infants, who were born in Bahrain without the proper documents.
“One of the mothers, who was already out of status and has been overstaying in Bahrain for a few years, gave birth at the home where she was staying without assistance from an appropriate medical practitioner,” said the embassy in a statement.
“While the other was employed as a household service worker when she was impregnated by a co-worker.”
The embassy has also assisted in facilitating DNA testing for the two toddlers, who were without medical records or birth registration, in addition to issuing travel documents and exit clearances for the mothers and their children.
The four-year-old girl and a one-year-old boy arrived in Manila last month.
“Since 2017, the embassy has repatriated more than 61 cases of undocumented children who were born in Bahrain and had no birth certificates, no passports or visas, and who have not been given adequate access to medical facilities because of their illegal status,” added the statement.
A senior official from the Bahrain government has welcomed the programme, adding that this will give the children access to education and healthcare.
“Bahrain continues to work with its counterparts in the Philippines as part of commitments to relevant United Nations and children’s rights conventions the country has ratified,” he told the GDN.
“This project is in the best interest of undocumented children to have access to education and healthcare in their home country after repatriation.”
Meanwhile, last month a special Christmas gathering was held at the embassy in Mahooz for the beneficiaries of the Oplan Kabataan programme.
It was attended by a delegation from the Office of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte led by Special Envoy to Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Robert Borje.
Also present at the event was a team from the Department of Foreign Affairs headed by Sarah Arriola, Under-Secretary for Migrant Workers Affairs.
Furthermore, a report in the Philippines daily The Manila Standard quoted Mr Borje on Wednesday as stating that President Duterte had expressed keenness to work with Bahrain’s government to address the issue of undocumented Filipino children in Manama.
Friend
“President Duterte considers His Majesty the King as a true friend,” Mr Borje was quoted in the report.
“Under His Majesty King Hamad’s reign, Bahrain has shown great strides, steady progress and regional and global leadership in championing migrant workers’ rights and countering trafficking.”
There are about 58,000 Filipinos working in Bahrain, of whom about 18,000 are domestic workers.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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