Women and Forced Migration

As we head towards International Women’s Day on 8 March 2018, we couldn’t hope for better momentum. Debates on gender justice have reached the mainstream, and the discourse is becoming increasingly inclusive. A good time for political activism!

But women’s needs will vary according to their particular context. The things they need to be able to freely realise their potential and participate equally in political and social life will depend on what gender-specific vulnerabilities they are subject to. Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread systematic violations of human rights, especially in the context of forced and voluntary migration. Pregnant and unaccompanied women, mothers and young girls suffer in myriad ways from the consequences of gender-based violence and discrimination.

In what respects are women refugees especially vulnerable? What integration services and medical assistance are available to them in Germany? What strategies and social alliances are necessary to enable them to achieve financial independence and equal participation at all levels of society?

In response to these questions, the Heinrich Böll Foundation has worked with Ingar Abels and Jenny Jesuthasan to compile a dossier entitled “Women and Forced Migration”. On the evening of 8 March, the dossier’s authors will be participating in a panel discussion about their policy recommendations. Building on the problems and policies described in the dossier, initiatives from various fields will introduce themselves and present self-empowerment strategies that have already been tested in practice. The aim of the evening is to expand on and refine the dossier’s recommendations.

Participants will include:

• Armaghan Naghipour (Lawyers without Borders Germany)
• Jenny Jesuthasan (Curator of the Dossier, psychologist, Charité Berlin)
• Jessica Mosbahi (Medica Mondiale)
• Yasmine Merei (Journalist, Human Rights Activist)
• Meryam Schouler-Ocak (Head of Intercultural Migration and Health Services Research at Charité Berlin, Professor of Intercultural Psychiatry)
• Yasemin Bekyol (Centre for Area Studies, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg)
• Tatjana Baraulina (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, BAMF)
• Gerrit Gramer (Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, DIHK)

Moderator: Diana Crăciun (BALANCE Family Planning Centre, Berlin)

Location:
Refugio Berlin
Lenaustr. 3-4
12047 Berlin

Contact:
Sarah Schwahn
E-Mail: migration@boell.de
Telefon: 030-285 34 183

Illustration: Dima Nachawi

Please register by march 4!