HOME works with government agencies, civic groups, corporations and other community partners to realize this vision 'One Vision, One World' through community based education, outreach campaigns, research, consultations and dialogue.


STOP - Stop the Trafficking of Children & Young Persons
This is the new three year global campaign by The Body Shop (TBS) to raise awareness of the issue of sex trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children and young people. In Singapore, the STOP campaign will kicked off on 6 August 2009, focusing on the issue in all The Body Shop stores on the island for two weeks. The stores has begun selling a special edition Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream, priced at S$19.90, to raise funds for the campaign.

HOME has chosen to be a campaign partner together with UNIFEM, Singapore and ECPAT, Bangkok, because since 2004, we have dedicated our efforts to 'prevention, protection and prosecution' in the global combat against human trafficking and labour exploitation.

In a year, we respond to some 10,000 calls for assistance and we provide shelter housing for 1000 beneficiaries. Among those we have helped have been victims of sex trafficking. Over the last 5 years we have helped some 50 women who were victims of sex trafficking. Others or some 5000 were victims of labour trafficking and exploitation. Recently we have set up a legal resource centre to give teeth to our bite against traffickers and abettors of crimes against vulnerable women and children.

Day Off Campaign
Together with our partners, UNIFEM, Singapore and TWC2, the campaign was launched on April 28th 2008. This is a public education campaign aimed at encouraging employers in Singapore to voluntarily give their domestic worker a day off. Through campaign activities such as talks, events, news articles and this website, we hope that enough people become convinced on the importance of giving their domestic worker personal time off.

Campaign Activities:

•	Organizing school talks and forums
•	Setting up campaign booths at various schools in Singapore, and at the Toa Payoh library
•	Holding a forum theatre performance. In collaboration with Migrant Voices ["MV"], an indoor performance at The Arts House entitled 'Let Me Off!' was staged to explore the difficulties domestic workers face in negotiating with their employer for a day off.
•	Setting up a campaign website (www.dayoff.sg). This website has the following features: (a) A FAQ section to address common concerns and fears employers have about giving MDWs a regular day off; (b) How to manage the employment relationship between the MDW and the employer; (c) How to identify an employment agency to suit the employer's needs; (d) Guidelines for employers to giving their MDW a day off; and (e) Resources for employers and MDWs on the activities that MDWs can get involved in during their days off.

A research project examining the attitudes of Singaporeans towards the day off issue is underway and will be released by the end of 2009. A forum to discuss the rights of migrant domestic workers is in the pipeline and will be held as part of our commemoration of UN International Migrants' Day 2009.


First National Domestic Worker Assembly 2008
The first gathering of migrant domestic workers to discuss issues concerning their labour rights and welfare was held at York Hotel on 14 December 2008, as part of our commemoration of International Migrants' Day. A total of three hundred MDWs turned up for the event which was sponsored by the ILO and organised in collaboration with members of Solidaritas Migran Scalabrini. The panel discussions that followed touched on 3 topics: dignity of work; dignity of person; and dignity of life.

Mr. Jolovan Wham, Executive Director of HOME, presented on Singapore's labour and contractual laws and its impact on MDWs Dr Anne Genetet and Ms Lola Wagner presented on the dignity of the person and focused on sexual and reproductive health rights of MDWs. Both panelists discussed the importance of protection against sexually transmitted diseases, the myths surrounding the issues, and the steps that domestic workers can take to prevent infection. Dr Ann Marie Lew and Ms Peshali Fernando talked about the dignity of life. Mental health was the focus of this issue: both speakers discussed homesickness, depression, and culture shock, and the ways to cope with these conditions.

ILO Domestic Worker Consultation
At its 301st Session (March 2008), the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) decided to put on the agenda of the 99th Session (2010) of the International Labour Conference an item on decent work for domestic workers for a double discussion leading to the possible adoption of a Convention supplemented by a Recommendation.

HOME and TWC2 invited domestic worker representative for their views on the scope and content of the proposed instruments. Their views have since been submitted to the SNTUC to be included in a report for the Conference.