Challenges Faced by Single Female Migrants in Europe
Esther, a Nigerian national, reported being offered passage to Europe from Lagos in 2016 with promises of employment and housing. Her journey across the desert to Libya involved forced sex work and subsequent asylum claims in multiple countries.
While men constitute the majority of irregular migrants and asylum seekers, accounting for 70% according to the European Agency for Asylum, the number of women traveling alone to Europe to seek asylum is increasing. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Italy noted an annual rise of 250% in single adult women arriving via the Balkan route, compared to a 52% increase in families, as highlighted in their 2024 report.
Risks on Migrant Routes
Migrant routes are associated with significant hazards. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded 3,419 migrant deaths or disappearances in Europe in the previous year, marking it as the deadliest year on record.
Female migrants face additional risks, including sexual violence and exploitation. Esther's account described being confined and subjected to forced sexual acts after being transported to Libya, a practice she characterized as common for young Nigerian women taken there for sex work. Ugochi Daniels of the IOM stated that women's experiences are 'different and often riskier,' noting that even those traveling in groups may lack consistent protection, making them vulnerable to abuse by smugglers, traffickers, or other migrants.
Some women reportedly carry condoms or have contraceptive devices fitted in anticipation of potential sexual assault during their journey. Hermine Gbedo of Stella Polare, an anti-trafficking network, indicated that women are frequently expected to offer sex as part of payment to smugglers. Ms. Gbedo supports female migrants in Trieste, Italy, a major entry point to the European Union from the Balkans, from which migrants proceed to other European countries.
Asylum Claims and Policy Debates
After four months in Libya, Esther crossed the Mediterranean by dinghy, was rescued by the Italian coast guard, and taken to Lampedusa. She received refugee status following three asylum claims. Asylum claims from countries deemed safe are often rejected. Italy initially considered Nigeria unsafe but revised this assessment two years prior, amidst a tightening of asylum rules across Europe following the 2015-16 migrant influx.
Nicola Procaccini, an MP in Italy's government, stated the impossibility of sustaining 'mass migration' and advocated for guaranteeing safety only to women genuinely 'in danger,' not all. Rakib Ehsan of the Policy Exchange think tank suggested prioritizing women at immediate risk in conflict zones where rape is a weapon of war, advocating for 'controlled compassion.'
Gender-Based Violence as Grounds for Asylum
Some women arriving from countries considered safe assert that gender-based abuse has rendered life in their home countries untenable. Nina, 28, from Kosovo, reported sexual abuse by boyfriends who coerced her and her sister into sex work. A 2019 OSCE report indicated that 54% of women in Kosovo had experienced psychological, physical, or sexual violence from an intimate partner since age 15.
The Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention grants women facing persecution due to gender-based violence the right to asylum, a position affirmed by a landmark EU court ruling last year. The convention defines gender-based violence to include psychological, physical, and sexual violence, as well as female genital mutilation (FGM).
Charity groups report inconsistent application of these terms. Marianne Nguena Kana, Director of End FGM European Network, stated that many asylum officials, often male, lack sufficient training to address sensitive issues like FGM medically and psychologically. She cited instances where asylum claims were denied based on the reasoning that women who had already undergone FGM faced no further risk upon return to their home country.