SHAH ALAM - The Global Migration Film Festival celebrates the diversity of migrants by screening three films at the International Organisation for Migration in conjunction with the International Migrants Day, this Dec 18.
Apart from that, the event aimed to deliver awareness of the hardships of the experience as migrants, while creating a more empathetic and inclusive society.
The films that would be screened for the public are ‘Rasa Dan Asa’ (Flavours, Feelings & Hopes) by Okui Lala, ‘Nasrikah; Di Sini Aku’ (Here I Am) and ‘Rumah Ndak Bertanah’ (The House Without A Ground) both by Putri Purnama Sugua and Tan Cher Kian.
The Malaysia International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission Kendra Rinas hoped the message would be perfectly delivered and public would gained better insights through the event.
"This is a great opportunity for the public to learn and have a safe discourse on migration issues happening in Malaysia, specifically on statelessness and challenges faced by migrant domestic workers.
"What better way to do this than through film – a powerful tool that can create understanding and bring changes,” she said.
The half-day event which would take place at PJLA Theatre Hall in Jaya One shopping mall on Dec 15 from 2.30 until 5.30 pm was expected to garner more than 200 participants.
The organiser would also hold two-panel discussions to exchange inputs on migrant domestic workers and issues of statelessness.
The panel speakers were Indonesian Migrant Domestic Workers Association (PERTIMIG) founding member and Vice Chairperson Binti Rosidah, filmmaker Putri Purnama Sugua and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) Statelessness Unit head Illy Kamaluddin.
The other panel speakers invited are Social Protection of Development of Human Resources in Rural Area (DHRRA) Malaysia director, Maalini Ramalo and also the Advancing Workers' Rights in the Palm Oil Sector in Indonesia and Malaysia project at International Labour Organization (ILO) National Project Coordinator, Josh Hong.