Human rights instruments put to the test

02.11.2020

How can existing international human rights instruments be used to protect and promote the rights of women in migration?

Women domestic workers, many of whom have lost their jobs after the coronavirus outbreak, gather for a protest demanding social security from the government in Bengaluru, India, Monday, June 15, 2020. India is the fourth hardest-hit country by the COVID-1

Image: Women domestic workers, many of whom have lost their jobs after the coronavirus outbreak, gather for a protest demanding social security from the government in Bengaluru, India, Monday, June 15, 2020. India is the fourth hardest-hit country by the COVID-1 of picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Aijaz Rahi

The explanations for international migration are diverse, complex, and interlinked. International migrant workers are exposed to a multitude of problematic situations affecting the migration process from its early stage until return to the country of origin. Though both men and migrant women workers are confronted with multitudes of vulnerabilities, the undeniable truth is that the position of migrant women workers, compared to that of men, is more vulnerable.

The protection of the rights of migrant women workers has been the subject of increasing concern throughout the UN system over the past decades. A large array of international instruments exists to provide parameters for the regulation of international migration and standards for human and labour rights, however, initially often lacking gender-specific clauses and neglecting the important role migrant women play as income earners.

Nicola Piper, British Academy Global Professor Fellow, Queen Mary University of Londonprovides an overview of key international instruments and frameworks and discusses whether gender-specific protection for migrant women workers has been justly included. She also highlights how the current pandemic exposed the highly precarious situation of migrant workers and migrant women in particular.

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.