Road to Equality

In many parts of the world, March is dedicated to women

As we celebrate the achievements of women and girls on the journey to gender equality, we must also acknowledge the remaining roadblocks that stand in their way. This year the United Nations’ call to action is to “ Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress. ” At IOM, we call for a cohesive commitment to invest in migrant, displaced and diaspora women and girls in all their diversity.

With 140 million women and girls on the move, accounting for half of the world’s migrants, we recognize that harnessing the power of migration has the potential to speed up the progress towards achieving gender equality by 2030. That is why IOM will anchor its efforts in climate solutions, leveraging the power of feminist activists, and investing in innovative financial systems for migrants IOM wants to focus on gender-responsive financing for sustainable development, robust climate action, all while ensuring that feminist change-makers are front and center. The time for action is now.

A unified call for progress

When adequate investment is made in the lives of women and girls, everyone wins. Gender inequality not only threatens human rights but also exacerbates poverty, environmental degradation, and undermines the outstanding efforts of feminist changemakers. By pooling our efforts together, we can work towards ensuring the best possible outcomes for women and girls, including those who are migrants. This is how and why it can be done:

Migrant women are key in combating the adverse effects of climate change. When empowered, they have the skills to mitigate challenges, enhance resilience and contribute to sustainable solutions within their communities.

IOM advocates for investments and partnerships with women-led human rights organisations that work with migrant, diaspora and internally displaced communities within an intersectional feminist praxis which advocates for disadvantaged communities.

Leveraging migrant women's financial contributions is key to combatting poverty. Investments in innovative financial mechanisms can propel their significant contributions within their countries of origin even further.

Women and girls in technology is a win-win

When women and girls are given equal access to technology, it unlocks their potential for creativity and innovation, leading to solutions that cater to women's needs and promote gender equality. On the other hand, excluding women and girls from technology comes at a significant cost, resulting in social exclusion and economic losses.

Innovation, technology, and digital education have the power to increase migrant women and girls' awareness of their rights and create opportunities to tackle real-life challenges. However, the digital revolution can also reinforce existing gender inequalities.

Explore the images below to discover how technology can either enhance or jeopardize gender equality. Click on each image to learn more and join us in the journey towards a more equitable future for all

Women often encounter difficulties in accessing technology, not only because of issues with affordability or infrastructure, but also due to discrimination and unequal opportunities for skills’ development.

The use of digital technology in finance is growing. Yet, globally, many women are still “unbanked and lack access to financial accounts, loans, or insurance services.

In many countries, SIM cards are required to access mobile networks and the internet.

The use of digital technology in finance is growing. Yet, globally, many women are still “unbanked and lack access to financial accounts, loans, or insurance services.

Migrant girls often face multiple barriers to accessing education, such as language barriers, financial constraints, and social isolation. Digital education can provide a solution to these challenges by offering flexible and accessible learning opportunities that can be accessed from anywhere.

Investing in technology with a focus on gender can help to address the specific challenges and barriers faced by migrant women and girls, such as language barriers, cultural differences, and limited access to resources.

What Can You Do?

Whether you find yourself in Ethiopia or Iraq, in Egypt or Chad, there are many ways you can contribute to gender equality:

Advocate for equal rights under the law, in employment and in mobility

You don’t have to be a lawyer to promote equal rights. Look around at your school or workplace to see if women and girls get the same access and opportunities as men and boys.

Did you spot an unfair rule? Talk about it with peers and colleagues to see how you can change this together.
Combat discrimination in every aspect of daily life

Not the fighting type? Not a problem. There are many ways to resist unfair treatment. And it’s not just up to women. Men and boys are key actors in making sure we all get the same opportunities in life.
Learn about the ways gender affects migration

If you don’t feel ready to be an advocate or a fighter just yet, start by educating yourself. There is so much to learn about gender equality and the better your understanding, the better you will feel.

Become part of the conversation

Start learning right here, right now. We have collected some key resources to get you started on a gender equality learning journey:

Equality, respect for diversity and inclusion start at home

Whenever we carry out awareness raising campaigns or youth engagement activities, we keep some things in mind:

Is there a good gender balance among participants, leaders and facilitators for the activity?
Are there any barriers for girls or boys to be part of the event and express themselves publicly?
Did we hear the perspective of women migrants in this story?

Road to Equality is a campaign by the COMPASS initiative created with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands.

For more information, please visit:
www.iom.int/compass

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