In the conduct of IMRF 2026, we amplify the voices of women migrants, calling for right based, gender responsive and intersectional approach that place migrants, their communities and families at the center to address the long standing issues faced by migrants, from access to justice, social protection, affected by war and conflict, xenophobia to meaningful participation.
The second IMRF convenes at a critical moment marked by a convergence of global crises, from escalating war and conflict, climate crisis, soaring inflation, poverty and food insecurity, to a deepening financial debt crisis. We emphasise the challenges faced by women migrants, who make up nearly half of the global migrant population. Women continue to occupy traditional roles in the workplace across many sectors and occupations, including care and domestic work, manufacturing, and informal services. These low-wage positions relegated to migrant women are often undervalued, with rights inadequately protected in policies and in practice. As the IMRF Progress Declaration explicitly calls for gender-responsive policies, we strongly urge states to refrain from regressing on rights and recognise women migrants as rights-holders who can actively contribute meaningfully in policy-making.
In the current context, we observe that global migration governance is becoming increasingly restrictive, with more governments prioritising deterrence in the name of sovereignty and security rather than safeguarding the rights of all migrants. Externalisation of borders and increased arbitrary detention have made us question how securitised approaches have been weaponised by governments to control the categories of migrants who get in and out of their borders. The shift in migration control through bilateral and regional agreements goes beyond national territories, often without adequate human rights safeguards, as documented by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants. These trends raise serious concerns about states’ compliance with international human rights standards and the global commitments set out under the Global Compact on Migration.
It is critical to acknowledge that migrants are not only disproportionately affected by global crises and often positioned as passive recipients of services; rather, they have shown remarkable resilience and resistance through community solidarity and organising by extending support and refuge for distressed and abused migrants. Many are documenting issues grounded in their lived experiences and gendered analysis to stimulate conversations and advocate for change. We stress that migrants are also the key contributors to rights-based solutions and sustainable development, and governments must listen and learn from their unique experiences and demands.