Identification of Main Social Inclusion Services, Weaknesses and Proposals for Improvement
Social inclusion services are, in most cases, indiscriminately devised for both male and female migrants, and primarily aimed at employment, education, housing and health. Services for migrant women can be found in relation to specific healthcare needs and forms of gender-based exploitation and violence.
Associational life – through NGOs, community associations, charities, and other non-profit entities – proves to be a vital factor of representativeness, activism and inclusivity for migrant populations. Playing the role of a mediator between individuals (i.e. migrant women) and the State (i.e. public bodies), this sector offers a vast array of services going from knowledge-based and information-sharing services (consultation, legal advice, mediation, training, etc.), social benefit and human services (human rights protection, awareness-raising campaigns, etc.), up to socio-cultural promotion (cultural events, artistic activities, markets, public conferences, etc.). These actions are important for overcoming separation and fostering social interaction between migrants and natives, which is a crucial factor for reducing economic and social marginalisation of migrant women, with the ultimate goal of building more cohesive and inclusive societies.
In this context, migrant women’s associations occupy a particular place: established as voluntary, cultural, intercultural, community or differently defined entities, these associations are based on either migrant, migrant women’s or “mixed” (migrant and autochthonous) membership. Migrant women’s associations are committed to representing interests of migrant women and migrant communities, hence the importance of exchanging information, knowledge and experiences. Besides, their mission is to work towards creating the conditions for meaningful civil dialogue and positive interaction with the surrounding social context, which is achieved by multilevel networking and cooperation.
Services aimed at facilitating social inclusion of migrant women are provided by:
- Territorial immigration offices sometimes include specific services for migrant women
- Public employment offices can arrange services specifically intended for migrant women
- Training agencies, also schools and other educational institutions
- Religious and charitable entities: while promoting their interests and values, these organisations can also take over some services that are not sufficiently addressed by public administration
- NGOs and alike non-profit entities replace the State in diverse services and act as a key factor of social promotion and inclusivity
- Migrant women’s (or mixed) associations are important for a row of services insufficiently addressed by public bodies and for citizen participation of migrant women.
Migrant women are at risk of a double discrimination and marginalisation for being migrants and women. Yet, their “problems” are not “women’s problems”, but society’s problems, meaning that inclusion is not a migrant women’s responsibility, but a multi-layered process that involves diverse social actors. Accordingly, improvement of existing social service systems for migrants/migrant women is a priority: services need to be enhanced in terms of social norms, resources and competences, which entails a certain political will.
The following are some main issues that need to be addressed in terms of social service improvement:
- Staff training on migrant women’s conditions and needs that should imply cultural competency and a gender-sensitive approach in service delivery
- More data and research are needed: regular and ongoing needs assessments and follow-ups, and monitoring of inclusion and participatory processes
- Pay special attention to migrant women in particularly vulnerable situation (e.g. single mothers) and their needs
- Guarantee migrant women’s access to social services by providing information and translating relevant documentation
- Assist migrant women in recognition of educational and professional qualifications obtained in their native countries and of informal skills
- Reduce educational gaps by promoting educational opportunities for migrant women and providing tools for their professional improvement
- Promote social inclusion and participation through labour integration by arranging educational and professional training
- Promote interaction with local communities, often weak or even missing, by generating spaces and moments for community participation
- Support migrant women’s associations, aimed at advocacy and social empowerment of migrant women, by creating professional and social networks and building a sense of community
Strengthen anti-discrimination measures, esp. those striking migrant women and hindering their social inclusion and citizen participation by promoting awareness-raising at a broader societal level.
Online Resources
Kontodiakou P., Styliou L., Theodosiou A., Sotiropoulou C., Kameas A. (2018), The Social Integration of Migrant and Refugee Women: A Guide for Policy Makers, WEMIN
(http://www.wemin-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-social-integration-of-Migrant-and-Refugee-Women-a-Guide-for-Policy-Makers.pdf)
The present Guide is designed for policy makers working in the field of Social integration of migrant and refugee women. Based on the findings of the WEMIN Project and on the accumulative experience, the Guide includes a number of recommendations for EU and national policy makers.
Eurodiaconia & Authors: Gabriela Agatiello, Lukas Humer, 2018, Eurodiaconia’s Guidelines for the Integration of Migrant Women, Bruxelles.
(https://www.eurodiaconia.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Eurodiaconia_Guidelines_Integration_Migrant_Women_WEB.pdf)
Dedicated to integration of migrant women in Europe, this publication starts from the characteristics of migrant women, presents key challenges and practical recommendations for their more effective integration, and concludes with some best practice examples.
INTERREG V-A ITALY-SLOVENIA: INTEGRA PROJECT, Cross-border network for migrant women. Social inclusion, sexual and reproductive health.
(https://www.interregyouth.com/single-post/2020/05/20/cross-border-network-for-migrant-women-social-inclusion-sexual-and-reproductive-health)
This web site is dedicated to the INTEGRA project, aimed at protecting sexual and reproductive health of migrant women born and raised in cultures with a strong patriarchal imprint.