On April 22nd we organized an online public project presentation, which included a round table titled: “In the Frontline: Migrant Women in the Covid 19 pandemic context in Europe”, counting with more than 50 participants from EU and non EU countries.
The COVID-19 pandemic social and economic impacts across Europe are huge. Although all people are facing unprecedented difficulties, for groups in vulnerable situations inequalities are critically increasing.
Migrants, especially women, have been at the forefront facing the difficulties caused by the coronavirus. Migrant women have carried out essential jobs, often precarious, such as care and domestic works or jobs in the agricultural sector, among others.
In this situation migrant women are exposed to serious risks such as:
– Labour explotation, precarious work increase and unemployment
– A greater risk of COVID-19 infection due to the difficulty of accessing to personal protective equipment in their jobs.
– Increase of populist anti-immigration discourses, racism and stigmatization.
– Overload of care work due, for example, to the closure of schools or the care of sick family members.
– Increased risk of male violence against women and decrease in access to safety, justice and reporting the perpetrators
For all these, it is essential to analyze this reality with a gender and intersectional approach that allows identifying these inequalities, offering greater protection and support, and ensuring access to rights for migrant women.
A review of the situation of migrant women in Europe, by Anna Zobnina and Alyssa Ahrabare. European Network of Migrant Women (ENOMW)
Mapping the situation by country:
– Spain, Rosabel Agirregomezkorta. Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones sobre Mujeres (CEIM)
– Ireland, Caroline Munyi. Akina Dada wa Africa (AKIDWA)
– France, Esther Fouchier. Forum Femmes Méditerranée (FFM)
– Italy, Michela Belloni. Le Fate Onlus (LFO)