RCM and IOM Launch a Virtual Course on Migrant Women for Consular Staff

Migrant women represent almost half of all international migrants around the world (equaling to approximately 117 million migrant women), they have a key function regarding the social and cultural constitution of host countries, and provide significant and systematic economic contributions to their family in countries of origin, mainly through remittances.

However, in addition to the emotional toll it takes to leave your family and community behind, migrant women face a great variety of risks that can affect their health and lives during all phases of migration: origin, transit, destination and return.

In this context, and with the objective of building the capacities of the consular officials of the Mesoamerica Region to provide information and protection to migrant women, the Pro-Tempore Presidency of the Regional Conference for Migration (RCM) currently held by El Salvador, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) developed a Virtual Course on International Rights, Assistance and Protection of Migrant Women. Up to its starting date, the course counted with more than 300 registered participants in the E-Learning Platform on Migration of IOM.

The course´s target audience is the consular staff of the Member States of the RCM; nonetheless, other government and civil society organization staff can also use the materials.

During its six weeks, the course mainly focuses on national and regional legislation, and operative frameworks or programs that protect and assist migrant women.

Each of the six weeks focuses on a relevant theme, starting from international migration law and an introduction to risks which migrant women are exposed during the different phases of migration, to related subjects such as trafficking in persons and the migration of LGTBI people. To conclude, the participants will share their knowledge and clarify their questions through the participation in two webinars on national and regional normative frameworks.

The course is being implemented with the support of the Mesoamerica Program, which seeks to contribute to the development and implementation of strategies in Mesoamerica for the promotion of regular, orderly and safe migration, ensuring the human rights protection of migrants.

El Salvador assumed the PPT of the RCM for the 2017 period, and has positioned and fostered initiatives related to the topic of ´´Migrant Women´´.