Empowerment through safe migration
UN Women Statement for International Migrants Day, 18 December 2024
For women and girls, migration often represents a lifeline—their best chance to improve their lives and those of their families.
Yet, safe and regular migration remains out of reach for many of them. Gender-based discrimination continues to limit their decision-making and autonomy, dictating who migrates, where they go, and how they travel.
As a result, many women and girls are forced to take irregular and dangerous routes, exposing them to gender-based violence, kidnapping, and trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labour. Upon arrival in transit or destination countries, their migration status often forces women into informal, abusive work, lacking decent wages and basic protections.
Migrant women make significant contributions to the economic and social development of countries of transit and destination. Expanding regular migration channels will not only protect women, but also create opportunities for fair work, safe conditions and dignity, and allow them to participate fully and equally in society.
Regardless of their migration status, every migrant woman and girl must enjoy the full spectrum of their human rights, at all times.
On International Migrants Day, we urge governments to implement the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration and to adopt gender-responsive governance and policies.
Together, let’s make migration an empowering journey—one that respects and uplifts the rights, dignity, and potential of every woman and girl at #EveryStep.
