The stories and material on these pages are part of a special series on migration and reproductive health that Inter Press Service (Asia-Pacific) is undertaking, with the support of the Ford Foundation. The stories here aim to give a human face to migration, an issue too often viewed and discussed in media as a solely labour matter.

The project began with a seminar for participating writer-fellows from East Asia and the Middle East, held in Bangkok, Thailand on February 22-23, 2000, to allow them to exchange ideas and discuss migration in Asia.

Sixteen journalists from East Asia, and one from the Middle East (Lebanon) took part in the seminar 'On the Philippine Migration Trail: Migration and Reproductive Health'. Five resource persons from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Hong Kong shared their insights on labour migration in the region, especially about women since they make up majority of migrants, and reproductive health issues that workers face in the host countries.

The journalist participants were from Hongkong, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea -- all host countries for Filipino migrant workers. Three journalists from two Philippine daily newspapers and a news magazine attended.