Gender and Migration Some Recommendations for Programmatic Policies

Achievements of the Gender Approach Gender ideologies, hierarchies and social relations are known to influence in different ways the probabilities and results of the migration of men and women. Better understanding of the multiple causes of female migration that include needs and inequities. Better understanding of the consequences of female migration on the societies of origin and destination (on families, on development, on the social fabric) Evidence of the factors that place women in a position of greater vulnerability during the migration process Help in understanding how this phenomenon has positive and negative aspects.

Women have less opportunities than men to migrate legally (less information, more risks, greater probability of irregularity, more dependency) Women are more vulnerable than men to sexual violence and work exploitation Their specific needs for sexual and reproductive health care and other services are scarce or deficient Education and professional jobs are limited in the countries of origin, which means less attractive and lower paying work in the country of destination When migrating, women can exert greater autonomy over their own lives, which also translates into a positive mental change. Migration may offer better opportunities for education and access to health services, including reproductive health for the women and their children Negative Aspects Positive Aspects

They have less opportunities for social integration and political participation Occupations in traditionally female labor sectors are usually informal and loosely regulated, therefore tending to offer little protection Loss of well-qualified professional women (brain drain) and lack of recognition in the countries of destination (brain waste). The act of migrating is in itself empowering, as it stimulates changes in the women themselves, and removes the unbalances and gender inequities by changing the structural conditions in the receiving societies Migration can provide the income, status, autonomy, freedom and self-esteem inherent to employment The return or “circulation” of qualified migrant women may contribute significantly to the development of the societies of origin Negative Aspects Positive Aspects

Impact on the family unit with costs to the social fabric Upon their return they may find situations of family disintegration, discrimination and/or stigmatization and lack of employment Significant financial contributions from more committed sending of remittances The women who remain may also gain in independence, increased social power, self- esteem and presence in the public sphere The return of migrant women may bring valuable experience and knowledge for the socio- economic development of the communities of origin Negative Aspects Positive Aspects

More research to learn of the particularities and specific needs of the men and women associated with the migration Generation of statistical data disaggregated by gender Typologies and categories Causes Social impact Contribution to development 2) Ratification of and compliance with the international instruments under the logic of a common agenda Recommendations 1)More and Better Knowledge of the Phenomenon

3) Protection Measures  Linking social and development programs with migration policy  Information mechanisms and training in: o Routes or mechanisms to access legal or documented migration o More information on the risks of irregular migration o Existing networks and care services (Countries of origin, transit and destination)  Media strategies for promotion of human rights, denunciation of irregular situations, abuse or violations  Labor regulation of traditionally female occupational sectors.  Improving access to health services  Regulation and monitoring of private recruitment agencies  Coordination and international cooperation to fight trafficking in personas and to provide assistance to the victims Recommendations

4) Migration Services Open migration regularization channels (temporary programs, amnesty, victims of violence, family reunification) Reinforce international cooperation to strengthen and exchange information with consular networks Agile mechanisms to obtain identification documents and locate family members in the country of origin Foster and facilitate obtaining passports for the children of foreign mothers Support and protection for victims of domestic violence in destination countries 5) Training Measures Public officials, migration agents, judicial officials Recommendations

6) Empowerment Measures Measures to promote a change in the perception and decriminalization of migrants Recognizing the contribution migrant women make to the productivity of receiving countries as well as to the alleviation of the needs in their communities of origin through the remittances Financial training and support to the flow of remittances to favor women Institutional support mechanisms for the women who remain (alimony, obtaining custody in specific situations, opportunities for investment) Support for the creation of migrant women organizations in the countries of destination and of origin Recommendations

THANK YOU Fernanda Ezeta IOM Mexico