This migration policy roundtable, held in partnership with UN Women and the Migration for Development and Equality (MIDEQ) Hub, brought together UN agencies, governments, academics, international organizations, and civil society to discuss best practices and policies to strengthen gender-responsive migration governance, with a particular focus on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM).
Women and girls, as well as marginalized groups including LGBTIQ+ persons, experience particular risks associated with migration. For many, although migrating and resettlement in countries of destination brings benefits, it can also increase the risks of serious human rights violations such as violence, abuse, and exploitation.
Gender-responsive migration governance considers gender and intersectional inequalities that migrants face at all levels of governance and all stages of migration. These efforts aim to understand the different realities of migrants and to promote and protect their human rights accordingly. By ensuring that policies, laws, and programmes address their specific needs, challenges, and situations, we can work towards the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
A UNU-CPR policy brief summarizing the key themes and policy implications of the roundtable will be published online and circulated to all participants.
A recording of the event is available here.
Roundtable objectives
The roundtable discussion focused on policy and practice efforts that aimed to:
- Understand how data and evidence can support gender-responsive migration governance;
- Identify specific actions government, international organizations and civil society can take to ensure that migration governance is gender-responsive;,
- Strengthen capacity and foster partnerships to enhance gender-responsive migration governance; and
- Ensure that the GCM contributes to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 5 on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Moderator
Heaven Crawley, Head, Equitable Development and Migration, UNU-CPR and Director, MIDEQ Hub
Opening presentation
Seemin Qayum, Policy Advisor, Sustainable Development, UN Women: 'Gender-responsive migration governance: What does this mean in practice?'
Commentary
Felipe González Morales, UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants.
Resources
Towards Gender-Responsive Migration Governance (Presentation).
Raising the Bar- Measuring Progress on Gender-Responsive Migration Governance (Presentation).
