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ISLAMABAD: Women around the world face a heightened risk of violence, exploitation, and discrimination at every stage of migration, from recruitment and transit to work abroad and return to their home countries, according to a report by UN Women on Monday. Crossing borders in search of safety or opportunity can expose women to unsafe recruitment practices, human trafficking, forced labor, and gender-based violence, particularly for those traveling without legal documentation or reliable information.&nbsp; &quot;Violence is omnipresent at all stages of migration &ndash; from journeys and border crossings to life in destination countries, and eventual return,&quot; the UN report states.&nbsp; &quot;Migrant women often suffer violence multiple times by different perpetrators,&quot; the report notes.&nbsp; Trafficking in persons remains one of the most severe human rights violations affecting migrant women and girls. &quot;More than 60 per cent of trafficking victims detected worldwide are women or girls,&quot; many of them exploited in poorly regulated sectors such as &quot;domestic and care work,&quot; UN Women said. Dependence on employers for wages, housing or residency status can further silence women and limit access to justice. Migrant domestic workers are especially vulnerable. Most work inside &quot;private homes often means limited visibility and protection...Many migrant workers are excluded from national labour laws, denied rest days or fair wages, and are deeply dependent on their employers for income, housing, and residency status.&quot; Sponsorship systems that tie visas to employers often prevent women from leaving abusive situations or reporting violations, according to the report. Even after reaching their destination, they face &quot;discrimination based on gender, race, nationality, and migration status&quot; which &quot;shapes every aspect of life.&quot;&nbsp; Fear of detention or deportation discourages many from seeking help, while women in immigration detention face elevated risks of abuse and limited access to health care and complaint mechanisms. &quot;Many women report sexual abuse, poor or no access to sexual and reproductive health care, and a lack of privacy in sanitation and shower areas.&quot; Survivors of exploitation or trafficking may encounter &quot;stigma and exclusion,&quot; making reintegration and recovery more difficult without tailored support. Central role of women Against this backdrop, UN Women stated on Wednesday, ahead of International Migrants Day, observed on Dec. 18, that women play a central role in migration and that their rights must be protected. In its statement, UN Women described migration as &ldquo;a powerful story of resilience, connection and shared progress,&rdquo; noting that this year&rsquo;s theme, &ldquo;My Great Story: Cultures and Development,&rdquo; highlights how human mobility enriches societies and supports sustainable development when grounded in dignity and rights. &ldquo;At the heart of this story are women,&rdquo; the statement said, adding that women&rsquo;s earnings sustain families, their care work supports communities and their leadership helps societies adapt and flourish. UN Women said it is working with governments, civil society and migrant-led organizations worldwide to uphold the rights and dignity of migrant women and girls and ensure their voices shape policies. The organization cited an example from Ethiopia, where a young woman who survived exploitation as a domestic worker abroad rebuilt her life after returning home with support from a UN Women partner, accessing shelter, health care, legal aid and vocational training. &ldquo;Her journey toward justice and recovery shows what&rsquo;s possible when services are survivor-centred and gender-responsive,&rdquo; UN Women said.

Displaced Sudanese women carry their belongings as the walk toward a camp near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 11, 2025 (AFP)

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Women around the world face a heightened risk of violence, exploitation, and discrimination at every stage of migration, from recruitment and transit to work abroad and return to their home countries.

Women face risks at every stage of migration: UN Women report

Reuters

BRUSSELS: European Union member countries began rolling out a new entry and exit system on Sunday at the bloc&rsquo;s external borders, electronically registering non-EU nationals&#39; data. The Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated system that requires travellers to register at the border by scanning their passport and having their fingerprints and photograph taken, will be introduced over six months. The move is aimed at detecting overstayers, tackling identity fraud, and preventing illegal migration amid political pressure in some EU countries to take a tougher stance. &quot;The Entry/Exit System is the digital backbone of our new common European migration and asylum framework,&rdquo; European Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said in a statement. SIX MONTHS TO ADJUSTNon-EU citizens will have to register their personal details when they first enter the Schengen area - all EU member countries apart from Ireland and Cyprus, but including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Subsequent journeys will only require facial biometric verification. The system should be fully operational, with passport stamping replaced with electronic records, on April 10, 2026. &quot;Every third country national who arrives at an external border will undergo identity verification, security screening, and registration in the EU databases,&quot; Brunner said, adding that &quot;the six-month rollout gives member states, travellers, and businesses time to transition smoothly to the new procedures&quot;. For British travellers using the Port of Dover, the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, orthe&nbsp; Eurostar terminal at London&#39;s St Pancras International, the process will take place at the border before they leave the UK. At Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal, only freight and coach traffic will be subject to EES checks from Sunday. Passenger vehicle checks will follow in November at Dover and by the end of the year at Eurotunnel, while the Eurostar at St Pancras will gradually introduce the new process, starting with some business travellers from Sunday. &quot;We recognise that EES checks will be a significant change for British travellers, which is why we have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible,&quot; British Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris said. &quot;The UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our borders, and these modernisation measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration,&quot; Norris said.

 European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES)

Europe

The EU has begun a six-month rollout of its new Entry/Exit System, replacing passport stamping with biometric registration to enhance border control, detect overstayers, and combat illegal migration across the Schengen area. 

Articles tagged with "Migration"

Women face risks at every stage of migration: UN Women report

EU Entry/Exit System to be rolled out over six months