E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.4 page 8 13. The Special Rapporteur was concerned to learn that violations and abuses are underreported. The absence of legal documents often prevents OFWs from seeking redress out of fear of exposure and deportation. 14. Reportedly, in 2001 women represented 73 per cent of newly hired OFWs. The rise in female overseas migration is a product of many factors, including the feminization of poverty, the increase in the number of female-headed households and the demand for female migrant workers in developed economies. 15. The Special Rapporteur was informed that Filipinas leave the country as students, trainees, au pairs, professionals, workers and fiancées. Women are concentrated in jobs that make them very vulnerable to psychological abuse and physical violence, such as domestic work, caregiving, nursing and entertainment. The Special Rapporteur is very concerned about the vulnerability of women migrants to violence and abuse and to becoming victims of traffickers and smugglers. Women’s work often has low value in the countries of destination and is poorly paid, excluded from labour and social legislation and the subject of racist and discriminatory policies and behaviours. Women overseas workers are often victims of physical attacks, verbal abuse, psychological and emotional abuse, deprivation of resources for their physical and mental well-being, sexual assault, contract violations, slavery-like working conditions, discrimination, exclusion from health and social services, occupational health hazards and trafficking. 16. The Special Rapporteur is concerned about the fact that sexual assault, abuse and rape are often not reported out of fear of retaliation, fear of not being taken seriously by the authorities, or of being humiliated or blamed. The situation of undocumented migrants poses even more difficulties. Such situations leave women with a feeling of powerlessness and no concrete means of redress for grave violations of their rights to physical and mental health and integrity. 17. The Special Rapporteur is also concerned about the social costs of migration in the Philippines. Reportedly, approximately half (53 per cent) of migrant women are married, widowed or separated. This implies a growing number of motherless or parentless Filipino children. In 1999 there were an estimated 5,850,000 children below 17 years of age with at least one parent working overseas. The rate of divorce and separation among migrant women is 4.4 times higher than the national average and migrant women are 15 times more likely to be separated or divorced than their male counterparts. The pressure to provide the family with money sometimes causes migrants to avoid visiting home. Husbands left behind are not often prepared to take over their wives’ responsibilities. Distance and poor communications weaken relationships. The difficulty - often leading to failure - to maintain their relationships makes both the OFW and the spouse left behind emotionally vulnerable. Often, in case of family break-ups, the in-laws of OFWs argue with them over guardianship of children and control and use of the migrant’s property or remittances, with the children usually suffering as a result. 18. Reportedly, children of OFWs are more likely to become involved in delinquency or early marriage. Many children become quarrelsome and have difficulties developing healthy friendships with other children. In some cases, their grades in school decline. As a result of