The significant and vital role of migrant women in migration and
development today must be addressed at the UN's High Level Dialogue
on International Migration and Development if appropriate ways and
means to maximize migration's development benefits are to be
identified.

At the Dialogue, taking place at the United Nations in New York
on 14-15 September, the subject of migration and development will
be addressed for the first time at such a high level. 

To use this opportunity, UNFPA and IOM will be co-hosting a
panel discussion on "Female Migrants" on 13 September 2006, from
09:30am to 11:00pm at the United Nations. This panel discussion
follows an Expert Group Meeting discussing Female Migrants:
Bridging the gaps throughout the life cycle, which was organized in
response to the rising number of female migrants and the need for
governments to address the particularities of female migration, in
May here in New York.

Migrant women account for nearly half of the 195 million
international migrants in the world today. By remitting at least
half of the US$233 billion dollars sent through official channels
last year, they represent a critical economic force to be reckoned
with.

"Effective migration management needs a global approach
involving all stakeholders.  The UN High-Level Dialogue is a
crucial opportunity to mainstream the gender dimension of migration
into the international agenda," said Ndioro Ndiaye, IOM Deputy
Director General.  "Governments, development agencies and
international organizations must develop strategies to enhance the
positive impact of migration and particularly of migrant women
towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals."

This can be achieved through greater support for women in
enterprise creation, facilitating investments and providing
financial assistance and capacity building on such issues.

For female migrants, the experience of migration can and should
be empowering but it can also lead to abuse and
exploitation. 

In addition, conflict and civil strife exacerbate an already at
risk situation. The recent IOM evacuation of more than 13,000
migrants from Lebanon, 94 per cent of them women working in the
domestic sector, brought to the surface the vulnerability of female
migrants and the fragility of protection mechanisms.  IOM
medical staff reported that more than 20 per cent of the women
evacuated evidenced different forms of exploitation, such as
physical abuse, trauma, rape and resulting psychiatric
conditions.

Female migrants need to be able to make well-informed decisions
when migrating.  In countries of origin, female migrants
should have access to pre-departure information mechanisms and be
protected from unscrupulous recruitment agencies.

There are also legal gaps. The ratification, implementation and
enforcement of international mechanisms are necessary at the
national level to protect the human rights of female migrants
especially as there is no specific treaty or convention on this
group.  While the International Convention on the Protection
of the Human Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their
Families is important, it is not widely ratified by countries of
destination.  These countries should provide legislation
protection and enforcement of human rights in the informal sectors
where female migrants traditionally work, including incorporating
domestic work into trade unions and national labour laws.

Migrant men and women move for different reasons and with
different means.  Both genders can succeed in their mobility
if given a chance, but first and foremost, government policies must
play a positive role in the empowerment of women migrants by
promoting gender-responsive policies, legislation and programmes to
take into account not only the impact they have on men and women
but also how they can meet the different needs of the two
sexes.

"We need to know what half of the global migrant population does
and accomplishes and what impact those movements and
accomplishments have on economies and societies," added
Ndiaye.  "Gender analysis on migration and migrants, and
research and data collection on the economic and social empowerment
of migrant women is needed in order to have a clearer understanding
of migration's feminine factor."

IOM calls on all participants in the UN High Level Dialogue to
incorporate a gender dimension into the migration dialogue and into
national, regional and international migration policies and
programmes.

For further information, please contact:

Jean Philippe Chauzy

IOM

Tel: + 1 347-582-8328

Niurka Pineiro

IOM

Tel: + 1 202 558 8666

Regional Commissions

New York Office

Room S-3127, United Nations

Tel: + 1 212 963-5561

Fax: (212) 963-1500

Website: "http://www.un.org/Depts/rcnyo/newsletter/home.htm" target="_blank"
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