The Migration section includes three subtopics:
Refugees and Immigration: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated that women and children make up more that 80% of the global refugee population. Refugee women are threatened by their exposure to situations of armed conflict and human rights violations. They also face particular challenges in having their claims of asylum recognized, especially on the basis of gender-based persecution. Immigrant women may be disadvantaged by immigration policies that have a discriminatory impact.
Materials in this subtopic explore a range of issues relating to refugees, displaced women and immigrant women. The resources also address the experiences of refugee and displaced women globally and the international law relevant to their protection.
Labour Migration: According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, women comprise about half of all migrants worldwide and a rapidly growing number of migrant workers. Women migrant workers in low-paying, poorly-regulated sectors such as domestic work, sweatshop labour and the sex trade are particularly vulnerable to human rights violations, while skilled and professional female migrants may face gender discrimination in the labour market.
Materials in this subtopic examine labour rights of women who migrate, the human rights situation of female migrant workers, and the impact of domestic and international law.
Trafficking: Every year, hundreds of thousands of women and girls are trafficked within or across international borders. Trafficking is the illegal movement of people using force, threats, deception, fraud or abuse of power for the purpose of exploitation. Trafficked persons are treated as though they are commodities to be bought, sold and owned. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to trafficking due to their unequal economic, political and social status throughout the world.
Materials in this subtopic cover a range of issues including the international trafficking infrastructure; the causes of trafficking, sex trafficking and forced prostitution; debates regarding consent and the definition of trafficking; and domestic and international legal responses to the trafficking of women and girls.