Research Paper

Country of Study: Venezuela

Link: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/7/feature-ensuring-public-services-for-venezuelan-migrant-women

A- Women hawking coffee or sweets in the streets while their children line the sidewalks are a common sight in Colombian cities around the Venezuelan border. Majority of who have migrated from Venezuela, “the scene of the largest exodus in Latin America’s history.” (UNWomen, 2019). The article “Ensuring Public Services for Venezuelan Migrant Women”, describes how most migrant women are truly vulnerable because of their gender. As described by Thailer Fiorillo, a Venezuelan lawyer, “many, are often deceived… a very large portion of these women end up as sex workers... There is also workplace harassment and sexual harassment. The problem is that they think they’re going to be deported [if they come forward to complain... but having no documentation doesn’t mean they have no rights.” (Fiorillo, 2019). Colombia has welcomed millions of migrants with open arms, and has introduced support programs, special work permits, and mobility cards to help over 1,260,000 Venezuelans who now live there. To assist migrant women who are particularly vulnerable to labor exploitation or human trafficking, the UN Women began interventions in 2018, to provide emergency assistance, and information on services to those survivors for gender-based violence and sex exploitation and sensitized service providers. (UNWomen, 2019).

B- 1. The purpose of The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which was adopted in 1979 by the Un General Assembly, is frequently expressed as the international bill of rights for women. A document with 30 articles which consist of the definition of what “constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.” (UNWomen).

2. According to the UN Women, around 770, 975 Venezuelans have legal status in Colombia, while another 489, 619 have “irregular migratory status”, which means that they can only access protection and urgent care services.

3. Yes, Venezuela is a signatory of CEDAW. The country submitted the declaration of CEDAW, signed on July 17, 1980, and ratified in May 2, 1983.

4. “Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made upon ratification, accession or succession.” (UN Treaty Collection)

References:

“Ensuring Public Services for Venezuelan Migrant Women.” UN Women, 2019, www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/7/feature-ensuring-public-services-for-venezuelan-migrant-women.

“CEDAW: Country Reports.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/reports.htm.

CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of ... atlas-of-torture.org/api/files/1543234998465bo0n01cjui.pdf.

https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N95/079/27/IMG/N9507927.pdf?OpenElement