I participated in an online discussion forum on means of gathering reports of Ethiopian domestic workers abuse and a forum participant came up with this GIS tool to collect data on the issue. It is an interactive tool where anyone with information can submit incident report. We call upon those concerned with abuse of Ethiopian domestic workers abroad to help in this venture by submitting incident reports that you may know. Direct link to the site is provided: here
As indicated in the site one can submit known incident report by filling online from or by sending e-mail or by using iPhone or Android apps. Just make sure there are no duplicates. If you see the incident is reported, no need to submit it again. You can read article about how the GIS tool was developed in the following:
article
Fellow Ethiopians, reacting with emotion & expressing outrage whenever such kind of tragedy occurs does not bring the desired change. Let us make sure the tragic death of Alam Dechassa is not in vain and change it to positive force that would help next victims or prevent future abuses.
This interactive tool is one step toward addressing the problem. Hopefully, Ethiopian women organizations in diaspora and in the country would take further steps & lead the effort in demanding businesses making money from arranging such work abroad are investigated/vetted or bear responsibility for domestic workers' welfare they send abroad. Furthermore we can demand that safeguards being placed in future contracts like the one negotiated now between Saudi Arabia & Ethiopia. Making sure that clauses are put in place in the contract that allow domestic workers in distress seek help with social services organizations or better organize themselves as syndicates or self-help groups would go longway in preventing such abuses. Consultation with organizations like ILO & international NGOs having experience in such negotiations would help tremendously.
Expanded version of this article which would address our civic/political culture that allows such humiliation will be posted here in the near future. Stay tuned.