Migrant Mothers from Africa to Europa: Accompanying Mobility

Papers

Publication date:

May 2024

Because most young Africans who migrate to Europe cannot obtain visas, their travels frequently take place outside of legal channels, with high economic costs, and at great personal risk. The long routes of transit are strewn with migrating victims who have lost their lives in the attempt. Many of those who manage to reach Europe are women, some of them mothers. Not a few of them arrive on the coasts of the Canary Islands with small children who were born in their country of origin or who were conceived during the trip. They constitute a population that is not well known, but they have special characteristics and specific needs. This paper is dedicated to them.

Human Rights

Gender & Feminism

Migrations

Author

Cristina

Manzanedo

Lawyer and expert in migration and asylum. Member of the coordinating team of the ÖDOS programme for the reception of African women who migrate with children in their care or who are pregnant. Member of the Advisory Board and promoter of AMAE, Association of Afghan Women in Spain. She has worked in the Social sector of the Society of Jesus, both in the area of migration and international cooperation. Her experience covers both the legal defence of specific cases and political and social advocacy, arrivals, subsequent integration processes and forced returns to the country of origin. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fundació Lluís Espinal.