중남미

The recent phenomenon of Venezuelan migration to Ecuador presents a number of significant issues related to gender and, more specifically, the protection of women’s rights. At 56.6 percent, male migrants have tended to predominate in the initial wave of migration from Venezuela. However, the number of women and girls has increased as these early migrants brought family members to join them. Female migrants and refugees from Venezuela are highly educated, with many having completed tertiary education. Yet, as with their male counterparts, many lack official legal status and therefore struggle to enter the formal labor market. Migrant girls and adolescent women are at particular risk at school. One of the barriers to resolving gender discrimination is a perception of a lack of interest or knowledge on the part of public officials. This is especially felt by migrant and refugee women, who are often reticent to approach state institutions due to their irregular migratory status.