The Council of Europe has published a practical Guide designed to support public authorities in implementing Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)17 on protecting the rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls.
Developed as an awareness-raising and implementation tool, the Guide supports the various authorities dealing with migration, integration or asylum in translating international standards into concrete national action. While some countries already have policies addressing the rights of migrant women and girls, the Guide encourages authorities to adapt its content to their local context, drawing on professional expertise and existing frameworks. Each chapter provides a concise overview of key issues, explaining why each topic matters (for example arrival, protection, reception facilities, asylum etc.) and offering checklists to support the development and implementation of laws and policies. The resource aims to strengthen national capacities to ensure gender-sensitive and rights-based approaches to migration, asylum, and protection systems across Europe.
The 2022 Recommendation on which the Guide is based provides a comprehensive set of guidelines aimed at strengthening gender-sensitive protections and policies in the area of migration in Europe. It consolidates the relevant provisions of key international standards, including the European Convention on Human Rights, the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, and the Anti-Trafficking Convention. It also incorporates principles from the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, in line with a gender- and age-sensitive approach to migration and asylum.
Developed in light of evolving migration trends and gender equality standards, the 2022 Council of Europe recommendation recognises that women and girls face distinct challenges and vulnerabilities throughout the migration process. They are disproportionately affected by violence, trafficking, exploitation and abuse, and often experience a combination of forms of discrimination — in their countries of origin, during the journey and in transit, and upon arrival in destination countries. Taking their needs and situations into account in migration policies is essential to for the protection of human rights.
