Gender-based violence(s) in crises: the failure of France and Italy in protecting women

Violence in migration is not a new phenomenon. Indeed, from the beginning of their journey until their arrival in the destination country, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are victims of abuses and violence from many different sources. May it be smugglers, criminals, police officers, or even local populations, they face constant physical and mental threats. However, an important dimension of these abuses is understudied: gender-based violence (GBV). Indeed, while all migrants face threats, women and young girls are often more at risk of being physically and mentally harmed, even trafficked. Additionally, receiving countries, especially in times of crisis, seem to have a particularly hard time protecting this vulnerable group from abuses. Focusing on the 2015 refugee crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, this thesis focuses on how states, specifically Italy and France, failed to use intersectionality and human rights approaches to establish comprehensive and adapted policies to...Show moreViolence in migration is not a new phenomenon. Indeed, from the beginning of their journey until their arrival in the destination country, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are victims of abuses and violence from many different sources. May it be smugglers, criminals, police officers, or even local populations, they face constant physical and mental threats. However, an important dimension of these abuses is understudied: gender-based violence (GBV). Indeed, while all migrants face threats, women and young girls are often more at risk of being physically and mentally harmed, even trafficked. Additionally, receiving countries, especially in times of crisis, seem to have a particularly hard time protecting this vulnerable group from abuses. Focusing on the 2015 refugee crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, this thesis focuses on how states, specifically Italy and France, failed to use intersectionality and human rights approaches to establish comprehensive and adapted policies to protect migrant women’s livelihood and integrity during two crises. Furthermore, it argues that without the proper training in crisis management and anticipation, public administrations and policymakers failed to protect female migrants from a continuum of violence and did not enforce said policies.Show less

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Gender-based violence(s) in crises: the failure of France and Italy in protecting women