Women are leaving their homes to escape poverty and oppression. They are travelling independently to new cities or countries in search of greater opportunity.

Their journeys can bring rewards, but they can also be fraught with risk. This is the female face of migration.

Caritas representatives will discuss the female face of migration at a conference in Saly, Senegal 30 November to 2 December 2010.

News and Updates

  • 1/5/2011 - [Asian Christian Review] Female Face of Migration: An interview with M. Liebsch
  • 7/1/2011 - [Zenit.org] Caritas gives voice to migrant women
  • 2/12/2010 - Greater protection of women migrants essential
  • 1/12/2010 - “Change for female migrants: Centering on human security and human development”: Keynote paper by Merlie “Milet” B. Mendoza
  • 1/12/2010 - Welcome address to the Caritas Female Face of Migration Conference by Lesley-Anne Knight. Available in French, Spanish, Portugese
  • 30/11/2010 - Read personal entries on Caritas blog
  • 22/11/2010 - Migrant women at great risk of exploitation, abuse and insecurity
  • 5/11/2010 - On the move with Caritas Senegal - interview with Fr Ambroise Tine, Director of Caritas Senegal
  • 4/11/2010 - Catherine de Wenden, researcher at the Centre d’études et de recherches internationales (CERI) in Paris on Globalisation of migration
  • 27/10/10 - Caritas Internationalis Director of Policy Martina Liebsch on the female face of migration

Aims of the conference:

To create in-depth understanding of feminisation of migration, to discuss the increasing participation of women in migration flows, new possibilities that it offers to women in their human development and development of their families, and challenges they meet during their migration process.

To highlight the benefits of female migration as well as identify challenges and gaps in policies.

To become aware of the worldwide experience and that of Caritas in supporting and empowering migrant women, especially when their rights are abused, by sharing expertise of Caritas network and other NGOs.

To elaborate a position paper that asks for necessary changes in migration and other relevant policy areas to take the needs of women into account.