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Speaker 1: [Spanish 00:00:15] Speaker 2: Good afternoon to everyone.
Speaker 1: Today we are calling on the United States Government and the Organization of
American States to end the exploitation and abuse of domestic workers employed by diplomats.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:00:31] Speaker 1: Every year, approximately 3,000
migrant domestic workers come into the United States to work for diplomats.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:00:50] Speaker 1: They come on special visas that
the United States Government gives to the employees of diplomats.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:01:04] Speaker 1: They come with the promise of good
jobs. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:01:13]
Speaker 1: They come with the promise that U.S. Laws will protect them.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:01:21] Speaker 1: They arrive to find that their
so-called rights are unenforceable, Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:01:31]
Speaker 1: ... because the United States Government gives diplomatic immunity even for the way
diplomats treat their domestic workers. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:01:47]
Speaker 1: The United States Government gives diplomats the license to abuse their domestic
workers. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:02:05]
Speaker 1: We have seen how the United States Government continues to ignore their plight.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:02:20] Speaker 1: In a couple of weeks, we, together
with 6 petitioners, 6 domestic workers, from Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Bangladesh, Indonesia,
Zimbabwe ... Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:02:38]
Speaker 1: ... we're going to file a petition before the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights of the Organization of American States. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:02:54]
Speaker 1: This petition calls on the U.S. Government to live up to its obligations under
the American Declaration on the Rights of Man,
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:03:12] Speaker 1: ... because no class of workers
can suffer human rights abuse in this country with impunity.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:03:28] Speaker 1: One of the women, the courageous
women, that's filing this petition I want to tell you about. Her name is [Razia Begam
00:03:42]. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:03:44]
Speaker 1: [Razia 00:03:52] worked for a Bangladeshi diplomat to the United Nations.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:03:55] Speaker 1: For two full years, [Razia 00:04:05]
was kept as a prisoner in the home of this Bangladeshi diplomat.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:04:09] Speaker 1: She was never allowed to go outside
the apartment. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:04:20]
Speaker 1: Her passport was confiscated. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:04:26]
Speaker 1: She worked around the clock without a day of rest for $29 a month.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:04:33] Speaker 1: When guests came to the apartment,
her employers locked her in the kitchen so that she could not be seen.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:04:45] Speaker 1: Her employers tried to take from
her humanity and her dignity. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:05:01]
Speaker 1: What do we say to that? Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:05:09]
Speaker 1: [Razia 00:05:14] found the courage to escape and to sneak out.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:05:18] Speaker 1: In our petition, we say to the
United States Government, that international law requires it to protect domestic workers
and prevent these ongoing human rights abuses. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:05:34]
Speaker 1: Congress today has an opportunity to come into compliance with this obligation
under international law. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:05:53]
Speaker 1: In the next month, Congress must enact legislation to protect domestic workers
and provide them compensation and the reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:06:11] Speaker 1: Domestic workers must no longer
be forced to leave their rights at the doorstep of diplomat's homes.
Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:06:28] Speaker 1: Today, we say to the United States
government, enough is enough. Speaker 2: [Spanish 00:06:41]