The Troubling Story Of Abby Luna In Bahrain

In 2015, Filipino maid Abby Luna was rescued from her employer in Bahrain after she posted a desperate plea for help on her Facebook page. In the video, Luna claimed that she was raped and beaten by her employer's son. The video attracted about 78,000 shares and 19,000 likes and prompted the Philippine embassy to take action. Luna was picked up from her employer's house and placed under the care of the embassy, while police launched an investigation into the incident. Luna's story is a stark reminder of the dangers that many overseas Filipino workers face while seeking employment in other countries.

Abby Luna's Facebook plea for help

Abby Luna, a 28-year-old Filipino maid in Bahrain, posted a desperate plea for help on Facebook, claiming she had been raped and beaten by her employer's son. In a three-minute video, which appears to have been made on a webcam, a sobbing Luna said:

> "Help me get out of here. I'm scared. Until now, my genitals hurt. My leg is bruised. He [attacker] punched my leg to immobilise me... After my employer's son abused me, he threatened to kill me and bury me in the desert if I tell anyone about what happened."

Luna also posted a written appeal asking viewers to contact the Philippine embassy on her behalf. The video attracted about 78,000 shares and 19,000 likes, alerting Philippine embassy staff to her plight. Luna's employer allegedly did not believe her claims and insisted she finish the remaining two months of her contract before she could go home. The employer also told her to have an abortion if she fell pregnant, she added.

Luna is among an estimated 10 million Filipinos working overseas to escape poverty and high unemployment in the Philippines. Many Filipino workers, who account for a tenth of the country's population of 100 million, endure dangerous working conditions and menial jobs.

Luna's rescue by the Philippine embassy

Abby Luna, a 28-year-old Filipino maid in Bahrain, was rescued by the Philippine Embassy after she posted a desperate plea for help on Facebook. In the three-minute video, Luna claimed that she was beaten and raped by her employer's son. The video attracted about 78,000 shares and 19,000 likes, and it was this that alerted the Philippine Embassy to her plight.

Philippine Embassy officials and staff from Luna's employment agency went to her employer's house and picked her up. Luna is now under the care of the Philippine Embassy, and the police are investigating the incident.

Luna's alleged attacker was her employer's son, who she described as a "drug addict". In the video, Luna said:

> "Help me get out of here. I'm scared. Until now, my genitals hurt. My leg is bruised. He [attacker] punched my leg to immobilise me... After my employer's son abused me, he threatened to kill me and bury me in the desert if I tell anyone about what happened."

Luna also stated that her employer did not believe her claims and insisted she finish the remaining two months of her contract before returning home. Her employer also told her to have an abortion if she fell pregnant.

Luna is one of an estimated 10 million Filipinos working overseas to escape poverty and unemployment in the Philippines. Many Filipino workers abroad, who account for a tenth of the country's population, endure dangerous working conditions and are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Luna's employer's son denies allegations

Abby Luna, a 28-year-old Filipino maid working in Bahrain, has accused her employer's son of raping and beating her. In a three-minute video posted on Facebook, a sobbing Luna pleads for help and describes her employer's son as a "drug addict" who punched her leg to immobilize her. She also said that he threatened to kill her and bury her in the desert if she told anyone about the incident.

Luna's allegations have been denied by her alleged assailant. Ricky Aragon, vice-consul at the Philippine embassy in Bahrain, confirmed that the accused denied attacking Luna.

Luna's video attracted about 78,000 shares and 19,000 likes, alerting Philippine embassy staff to her plight. Embassy officials and staff from Luna's employment agency rescued her from her employer's house, and police launched an investigation into the incident.

Luna also stated that her employer did not believe her claims and insisted that she complete the remaining two months of her contract before returning home. The employer also told Luna to have an abortion if she felt pregnant.

The prevalence of abuse among maids in the Middle East

Abuse against maids in the Middle East is a widespread issue, with many cases going unreported due to the nature of their work and the power dynamics between employers and domestic workers. The case of Abby Luna, a 28-year-old Filipino maid in Bahrain, exemplifies the dangers faced by domestic workers in the region. Luna was rescued by the Philippine embassy after posting a desperate plea for help on Facebook, where she claimed to have been raped and beaten by her employer's son.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is a popular destination for female migrant domestic workers, particularly from Asian countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, and India. However, the region has also gained notoriety for the abuse and exploitation of these workers. This is largely due to the exclusion of domestic work from national labour laws, giving employers free rein to impose abusive working conditions, and the low level of awareness among domestic workers about their rights.

The kafala sponsorship system in Gulf countries further exacerbates the problem. This system grants a local citizen (known as the kafeel) significant power over migrant domestic workers, including the ability to permit their entry and control their stay in the country. If sponsorship is withdrawn, the worker loses their legal right to remain in the country, making them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to improve the rights of migrant workers. International organizations, regional entities, local NGOs, and governments are collaborating on initiatives to enhance legal protection and raise awareness. For example, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched the "We Are All Workers" campaign in Jordan to fight human trafficking and protect domestic workers.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia being a notable example. A study among women in different primary health centers in the Aljouf region of Saudi Arabia found that 30.3% had been exposed to IPV in the last year, with emotional violence being the most common form. Other studies in Saudi Arabia have reported similar or higher prevalence rates, indicating the seriousness of the problem.

Cultural and societal norms in the region also play a role in perpetuating abuse. In some communities, violence against women is seen as a justified punishment for misconduct, and the paternalistic model of the employer-employee relationship further reinforces power imbalances. Additionally, the closed nature of societies in countries like Saudi Arabia can make it difficult for women to seek help or report abuse.

To address the prevalence of abuse among maids in the Middle East, it is crucial to implement legal reforms that extend labour laws to domestic workers and ensure their enforcement. Empowering migrant workers by educating them about their rights and enhancing their bargaining power is also essential. Breaking down cultural and societal barriers that normalize abuse and promote male dominance is necessary to create a safer environment for maids in the region.

The dangerous working conditions Filipino workers endure

Abby Luna, a 28-year-old Filipino maid working in Bahrain, endured a horrific ordeal at the hands of her employer's son. In April 2015, Luna posted a desperate cry for help on her Facebook page in the form of a three-minute video, accusing her employer's son of raping and beating her. The video quickly went viral, attracting about 78,000 shares and 19,000 likes, and prompting the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain to take action.

In the video, a sobbing Luna pleaded for help, saying, "Help me get out of here. I'm scared. Until now, my genitals hurt. My leg is bruised. He [attacker] punched my leg to immobilise me." Luna, who had been working in Bahrain for a year, also claimed that her employer's son, a drug addict, had threatened to kill her and bury her in the desert if she told anyone about the abuse.

Luna's story is a stark reminder of the dangerous working conditions that many Filipino workers endure. An estimated 10 million Filipinos work overseas, often in menial jobs, to escape poverty and high unemployment rates in the Philippines. These workers, who account for a tenth of the country's population, are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, as they frequently work in unregulated and unsafe environments.

Maids working in the Middle East, in particular, suffer from frequent abuse. Human Rights Watch has called on countries in the region, such as the United Arab Emirates, to implement reforms that protect domestic workers. This includes calls for a reform of the restrictive visa system and the passing of labour laws that ensure workers' rights are respected and that abuse is punished.

The case of Abby Luna is not an isolated incident. In 2014, Indonesian domestic worker Erwiana Sulistyaningsih accused her employer in Hong Kong of subjecting her to six months of physical abuse. Photographs of Erwiana's injuries spread on social media, leading to public outrage and the eventual arrest and conviction of her employer. Unfortunately, many other Filipino workers may not be as fortunate as Luna and Erwiana in receiving timely help and seeing justice served.

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