The abuse of domestic workers

A sex bar in Angeles City, Philippines. The girls all share one dream: to escape to a better life Photograph: Robin Hammond

A prostitute leaves an Angeles City bar with a client, passing a sign advertising for new recruits. The girls are often under the age of 18. Domestic servitude abroad is, for many young Filipinas, the only other option Photograph: Robin Hammond

Mary Joy Dgumila, 25, suffered sexual abuse while working as a domestic helper in Yemen. Manila, Philippines Photograph: Robin Hammond

Maria Soccorro de la Cruz was sexually abused and daily suffered degrading verbal abuse while working as a domestic worker in Lebanon and Syria. She went abroad so she may be able to make some money to support her family in Manila. Pictured here with her 7 year old grandson Kriz Loay Ignote in the Philippines Photograph: Robin Hammond

Children standing on their stilted home in the vast Tondo slum that sits on an estuary near Manila, the Philippines. According to a United Nations report, compared with other East Asian and South East Asian neighbours, poverty reduction in the Philippines has lagged far behind that of Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and China Photograph: Robin Hammond

Jeanette Dy, 37, suffered broken bones after attempting to escape her abusive employer by jumping from the balcony of the apartment she was working in as a domestic helper in Kuwait. Manila, Philippines Photograph: Robin Hammond

Women queue for jobs as domestic helpers, mainly in Middle Eastern countries. Manila, Philippines Photograph: Robin Hammond

Lydia and Herminio, parents of Jennifer Ramiscal Perez who travelled to Jordan to be a domestic worker. Philippines Photograph: Robin Hammond

23 year old Jennifer Ramiscal Perez travelled to Jordan to be a domestic worker. She was pushed off the balcony of the apartment she was working in by her employer when she refused to give up her cell phone, she later died of her injuries. The employer was not convicted of her murder. Jennifer is pictured in hospital in Jordan Photograph: Collect

Sign advertising maids for hire in Beirut, Lebanon Photograph: Robin Hammond

An Asian maid in central Beirut, Lebanon Photograph: Robin Hammond

Filipina Mila, who was physically abused by her 'madam' while working as a domestic worker in Beirut Photograph: Robin Hammond

St Joseph's Catholic Church in Beirut where most of the parishioners are migrant workers. More than 100,000 mirgrants work as domestic workers or maids in Lebanon Photograph: Robin Hammond

29 year old Sri Lankan Indrani Ekanayaka who came to Lebanon to be a domestic worker. For 9 years she was locked in the house she was sent to and made to work up to 16 hours a day without payment. She escaped and is battling to get the money owed to her. She is pictured in the Beirut shelter run by the Christian charity group Caritas after fleeing her abusive employer Photograph: Robin Hammond

Laksetha Caritas Migrant Shelter, Beirut Photograph: Robin Hammond

36-year-old Gita, who was abused by a family in Hampstead: “I was held prisoner for two years and I wasn’t paid a penny for my last year’s work” Photograph: Robin Hammond

Divia, 33, came to the UK with her Malaysian employer as a domestic worker. Held prisoner, starved and beaten, she finally escaped. Photographed in London, May 2009 Photograph: Robin Hammond