Closing the Gap? Gender and the Global Compacts for Migration and Refugees

Abstract

Migrant women's organizations, UN Women, and civil society advocacy networks have mobilized to call for greater gender‐responsiveness in migration governance. The development of the Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees presented an important opportunity to continue enhancing the international framework for protecting the rights of women and men on the move. This article asks: How has gender been understood/invoked during proceedings leading up to their adoption? In what ways is it incorporated in the resulting compacts and their operationalization? What are the gains and missed opportunities for gender‐responsiveness? Drawing on data gathered through participant observation in the global compact on migration preparatory meetings and member state negotiations in Geneva and New York, and policy analysis of the drafts of both compacts, this paper aims to determine the extent to which the compacts, and the plans to operationalize them, serve to widen or close the gender gap.

Incongruous objectives? Endeavouring to realise women migrant workers’ rights through the global development agenda

“…Incorporating a proactively gender-responsive approach to the work of the Network will be critical in ensuring that implementation meets the needs of women migrant workers. As identified by Hennebry and Petrozziello (2019), however, the absence of UN Women from the core group of 14 Speech delivered by Commissioner Stylianides on behalf of HR/VP Mogherini, during the EP Debate on the Global Compact on Migration, European Union External Action, 13 November 2018. Available at https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/ headquarters-homepage_en/53754/Speech%20delivered%20by%20Commissioner%20Stylianides%20on%20behalf%20of%20HR/ VP%20Mogherini,%20during%20the%20EP%20Debate%20on%20the%20Global%20Compact%20on%20Migration,%2013% 20November%202018.…”

“…The setup of this survey may be indicative of the approach that will be taken to operationalising the GCM objectives themselves, namely with gender-responsive as an ancillary issue. If Hennebry and Petrozziello (2019) are correct in their suggestion that the language on gender-responsiveness in the GCM is further ahead than the knowledge base and capacities for implementation, then the separate reporting of gender-responsive implementation will do little to compel states to improve such knowledge base and capacity. The consequence of this will likely be 'business as usual', with implementation of the GCM as regards women migrant workers being both minimal and piecemeal.…”

“…To the extent that the GCM further elevates gender and women migrant workers’ rights in the global development agenda, this has been linked with the advocacy efforts of civil-society organisations, supported by international organisations such as UN Women and the ILO (Bastia and Piper, 2019; Hennebry and Petrozziello, 2019). Equally, however, where the GCM has not taken the opportunity to more expressly strengthen the rights of women migrant workers (e.g.…”

“…Equally, however, where the GCM has not taken the opportunity to more expressly strengthen the rights of women migrant workers (e.g. through calling for access to sexual and reproductive health care), this has been linked to the need to secure agreement from states with more conservative views on gender and women's rights (Hennebry and Petrozziello, 2019). Additionally, the narrow focus on economic remittances as the key contribution to development is a missed opportunity to reflect the broader contributions that women make to sustainable development (Hennebry and Petrozziello, 2019), for example through their social and political remittances.…”

“…Gender plays a significant role in labour migration, influencing the reasons why an individual migrates, the migration opportunities available to them and their ultimate working conditions (Hennebry and Petrozziello, 2019). Women migrant workers are disproportionately employed for labour that is undervalued and unprotected in low-paid and informal sectors (Bastia and Piper, 2019).…”