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UN Women Stories | The real-life tale of a migrant domestic worker

Snow White is from Karen State, Myanmar. Her father died when she was 11, leaving her responsible for the care of her mother and younger siblings. Lacking opportunity and education in her hometown, Snow White joined a group of friends hoping to be smuggled into Thailand to find work as domestic workers, setting off a harrowing journey that nearly left her dead.

Snow White is one of many millions of women who set out across international borders in search of a better life. Lacking access to social services and legal protection, these migrant women are often subjected to abuses such as low wages and harsh working and living conditions. The worst abuses force women into sexual slavery.

Date of Publication
Source / Publisher
UN Women
Language
English
Geographic Scope
Global
Workstream Output
Off
Regional Review Process
No
GCM Objectives
6
Cross Cutting Theme
People-centred
Human rights
Gender-responsive
Keywords
Gender
Tags
domestic work
Status
Published

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).