Erwiana named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine
PUBLISHED : Friday, 25 April, 2014, 4:26pm
UPDATED : Friday, 25 April, 2014, 8:00pm
Bryan Harris [email protected] Joanna Chiu [email protected]
Erwiana, pictured when she was in Hong Kong to assist police, said she hoped governments around the world would give more attention to the conditions of migrant workers. Photo: Felix Wong
Indonesian domestic helper Erwiana Sulistyaningsih who was allegedly beaten by her employer in Hong Kong has been recognised as one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine.
Erwiana said this afternoon that she was glad to be included on the list and hoped governments and the world would pay more attention to the conditions of migrant workers.
“There are many workers and migrant workers who are oppressed,” she said in a statement. “Hopefully, the governments and the UN can protect the workers so they will not become victims of abuse.”
But the 23-year-old will not be travelling to the United States to receive her recognition as she does not have money to pay for a trip.
Erwiana is on the latest list of big hitters by Time magazine, which also features NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, Pope Francis, Russian President Vladimir Putin and American pop star Beyonce.
Currently in its 11th iteration, the annual who’s who includes artists, politicians and business people from around the globe and is divided into five categories: titans, pioneers, artists, leaders and icons.
Front and centre among this year’s icons is Erwiana, who has received global media attention since January, when she returned to Indonesia after being allegedly tortured by her employer in Hong Kong. She returned to Hong Kong on April 7 for a week to help police with evidence in the trial of her former employer, Law Wan-tung.
Law, 44, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, and four counts of criminal intimidation against Erwiana and two other domestic helpers. Law is due to appear in court on April 29.
The magazine praised the former maid for speaking out and placing a spotlight on “the plight of a vulnerable and often invisible population.”
“It is brave women like her who speak up for the voiceless who will create lasting change,” said anti-human trafficking activist Somaly Man, who wrote Erwiana’s entry in the magazine.
Eman Villanueva, of the Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union in Hong Kong, said Erwiana will not be able to travel to the US to attend the recognition event. “She can’t attend because she doesn’t have money for airfare and hotel accommodation to go to New York,” Villanueva said.
"Time will not cover it. Too sad," he said.
Meanwhile, Snowden features on the list as a pioneer for the former US National Security Agency contractor’s efforts to expose a global surveillance system by the US.
“Snowden has given us a window of opportunity in which to make an informed, self-determined choice about this system. Our responsibility is to make sure it will not be the last choice we make,” said technology activist Daniel Domscheit-Berg as part of Snowden’s entry.
Currently living in exile in an undisclosed location in Russia, Snowden’s flight from prosecution in the US last year took him through Hong Kong, where he revealed the extent of US cyber infiltration in the city.
