At first glance, this research publication may seem niche, perhaps relevant only to “fringe” aspects of international migration. Historically, we know from decades of studies, data collection and analysis that there has been a strong bias toward the migration of young, working age-people who “self-select”’ (i.e. choose) to migrate internationally in order to realize opportunities in other countries. Outside of displacement settings, and especially for irregular migration, empirical findings also show that young men have tended to undertake the more uncertain or riskier forms of migration. However, there is also growing recognition of incremental shifts in migration patterns and processes, with increasing numbers of young women and adolescent girls undertaking migration independently (as opposed to being part of a family unit), including via irregular migration and smuggling routes.

Social changes and greater empowerment of women and girls, including through greater access to information and resources via ICT, means that the labour migration of young women and girls is a current issue that we must increasingly grapple with. Policies and practices designed to severely reduce (if not eradicate) unsafe, disorderly and irregular migration that places these migrants at risk of harm, is especially relevant to young women and girls, who may face greater risk of exploitation and abuse. Given the evident trends before us – related to social change and societal/gender expectations, transnational connectivity and international migration – the migration of young women and girls is also a strategic one. In the future, more households across the region will be reliant on remittances sent home by young women and adolescent girls. This issue is highlighted by Harriot Beazley in her paper in this report, in which she refers to women having been labelled “heroes of development” for their ability to support households back home through remittances. In this sense, the topic of this research is anything but fringe. The migration of young women and girls will become more of a priority for policymakers and practitioners safeguarding our collective prosperity in the region through optimizing the benefits that international migration can bring.

Supporting Bright Futures - International Organization for Migration (IOM), 2019 DOWNLOAD

post

page

attachment

revision

nav_menu_item

custom_css

customize_changeset

oembed_cache

user_request

wp_block

wp_template

wp_template_part

wp_global_styles

wp_navigation

wp_font_family

wp_font_face

acf-taxonomy

acf-post-type

acf-field-group

acf-field

ai1ec_event

exactmetrics_note

The Recycling Industry Addressing Child Labour and other Decent Work Challenges
Publications

While industrial recycling is squarely situated in the formal sector of the economy, the upstream segments of the recycling supply chain may reach deep into the informal sector, intersecting with the centuries-old occupation of waste picking. In man...Read More

Sexual Exploitation: A Growing Menace
Publications

The Fondation Scelles, for the third consecutive year, presents the Global Report on the evolution of sexual exploitation throughout the year. This report is an informational tool that aims to be as objective as possible. They find human traffick...Read More

TAGS: Global
Disrupting Harm in Kenya
Publications

Funded by the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children, through its Safe Online initiative, ECPAT, INTERPOL and UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti worked in partnership to design and implement a multifaceted research project on onlin...Read More

Regulation of Child Online Sexual Abuse: Legal Analysis of International Laws & Comparative Legal Analysis
Publications

This research study addresses legal issues around child online protection and the herewith related risk of becoming a victim of online sexual exploitation, in particular child pornography or online grooming.  It serves as a supplementary gui...Read More