Publications on Migrants

This study provides a synthesis of current migration trends and the HIV situation in seven countries of South Asia, examining the HIV situation of migrants within the context of gender, national and international migration patterns, policies and legislation.

This study demonstrates how multiple risk factors are situated and vary by types of sex work environments in a sample of 348 migrant FSWs in Beijing. Participants reported high rates of clients' refusal to use condoms (76%), unsafe sex with both clients (32%), non-paid regular partners (e.g., boyfriend or husband) (76%), and a STI symptom (79%) last year.

The report provides a rapid assessment of migration and mobility as key influences on the distribution and spread of HIV in the Pacific.

India is one of the major sending countries of migrant laborers in Asia. It is estimated that around 15 million Indians live abroad, and hundreds of thousands migrate each year for work.

In 2007, it was estimated that there were 4.9 million people living with HIV in Asia, of whom 440,000 became newly infected in the past year and approximately 300,000 died from AIDS‐related illness (#UNAIDS, 2008a).

Domestic conditions, coupled with a geographic location which links the expanding economies of South East Asia, China and South Asia, characterizes Myanmar as a country with dynamic internal and international mobility. Ethnic conflicts are one of the major sources of population displacement in and outside the country.

Between 1950 and 1980, all internal and international migration was forbidden by the Chinese government. Market reform in the 1980s loosened this government control on internal migration and, in recent years, labor migration to other countries has become part of China’s overall economic strategy.

Given its porous borders and tough economic conditions, Pakistan faces a variety of migration issues. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, at least 450,000 people migrate each year, of whom 300,000 resort to irregular means.

The Philippines is one of the world’s largest and best organised source countries for human labour migration. There are an estimated over 7 million Filipinos overseas at any point in time working in more than 160 countries, with an additional 1.3 million undocumented Filipinos working abroad.

Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) is a source of migrant workers, with Thailand as their main destination country. The long, porous border with Thailand together with Thailand’s demand for low‐skilled labor make it an attractive option for migrant workers.