EMPOWERING WOMEN MIGRANT WORKERS

Labour and other forms of migration can advance gender equality and women’s empowerment through opportunities it opens for greater independence, self-confidence and status. Migrant remittances and investments and newly acquired skills of returnees can potentially contribute to poverty reduction, thereby attracting growing interest among governments and development partners with regard to the Millennium Development Goals. Yet, migrant workers are also vulnerable to gender-specific discrimination and abuse at different points throughout the migration process, making it important to strengthen support for rights of both male and female migrant workers.