Rights of migrant workers The Human Rights Commission jointly with the Sarvodaya movement organized a workshop based on a survey on migrant workers to mark the International Human Rights Day. Women development officers, Child Rights promotion officers, Probation officers, District coordinators of the Child Protection Authority, consultants and relief workers participated in the event. As reasons compelling to migrate for jobs were identified as unavailability of a steady income, unbearable cost of living, building up a house, compelling to provide dowries for girl children and money for education of children. Indebtedness, domestic violence, no protection for children & addiction to narcotics were identified as social issues in the area. In addition, the language issues, low working conditions, negligence, issues of accommodation and food, torture were given as issues faced by migrant workers. Nevertheless it has been observed that sending women abroad for housemaid jobs by agencies is continuing even without proper legal protection. Rights of migrant workers and human trafficking A workshop was held under the above theme at the Regional Office Kalmunai with the participation of Mr. S. Sarveshan, Senior Lecturer of the University of Colombo as the resource person. The matters relating to rights of workers, social security and union rights and rights of migrant workers and rights of their family members which were important for the protection of human rights of migrant works were discussed. The workshop was attended by government officers, union leaders and social activists of the area who are working in this field. The local and international laws applicable and the reasons for migration, benefits and adverse effects were discussed. Child Rights A workshop  was  organized  for  police  officers  in  charge  of  the  protection  of  women’s  and  chidren’s   rights officers of the Child Protection Authority, Child Right promotion officers and probation officers. Most of the children living in Kalmunai have been affected by the war, tsunami and poverty. Objectives of the workshop were to make the community aware of child rights, to prevent violence, to create a favorable atmosphere to the child, development of coordination of child rights protection officers within various organizations, to create a district network with child right protection officers and the Human Rights Commission. 78