Women migrate in search of better education or work opportunities, seeking safety, autonomy, better livelihoods and a way to sustain their families back home. However, discriminatory migratory policies, which limit regular migration channels for women and girls, including in their countries of origin can be a violation of their rights during the migratory process.

Women migrants also face challenges that occur when accessing justice. Often they have limited information on where to seek remedy and live in fear of the state authorities due to lack of social support. Gender-specific stigma and stereotypes would often affect a women migrant‘s perspective on pursuing justice. The costs involved and the lack of assured and enforced justice constitute challenges for them in the fight for access and opportunity for justice and rights.

The state of domestic workers is even more telling of the lack of gender-sensitive mechanisms that exist in countries of destination. Women are disproportionately affected as they make up the vast majority of domestic workers worldwide. They have less rights than the common migrant worker, due to their gender and nature of job that does not allow them freedom of movement. The COVID-19 crisis has further exposed the particular vulnerability of informal domestic workers, emphasizing the urgent need to ensure they are effectively included in labour and social protection.

Listen to the presentation of Roula Hamati, Head of Research, Cross Regional Center for Refugees and Migrants, Lebanonas she looks at how restrictive migration policies affect migrant women and what other barriers they face when moving across borders.

The video is part of the web seminar series "Women in Motion - The impact of gender in international migration" of the FES Gender Innovation Network.