Gender Associations congratulates the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) on their recent published study “Responding to gender-based violence in the context of migration: Mapping EU Member States’ policies and actions”. Gender Associations was honoured to have been commissioned by EIGE to produce a study on this topic that formed the basis for this report.
Across the EU, migrant women face overlapping forms of discrimination and exclusion, which increases their risk of experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) and creates barriers to seeking help. The study, therefore, examines the laws, policies and frameworks that exist at the EU and Member State level to prevent and respond to GBV in the context of increasing migration to the EU due to crises such as conflict and climate change. Case studies were conducted on Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Malta and Spain.
Our research found that existing legal frameworks are not consistently implemented at the national level and responses are often fragmented, underfunded and lack a gender lens. For example, in most EU Member States, protection measures for migrant women affected by GBV are insufficient. There is a pressing need to strengthen the integration of gender-responsive measures in emergency preparedness and response strategies.
The study offers clear recommendations for both EU institutions and Member States to ensure that GBV prevention and response measures are gender-responsive, inclusive, survivor-centred and aligned with international obligations and good practices.
This report complements a policy brief that was also commissioned by EIGE and carried out by Gender Associations on “Addressing gender-based violence in migration: How to strengthen national action plans on Women, Peace and Security across the EU”.
