“I was so excited about going abroad and earning money and helping my family.” Noraida, from the Philippines who, at the age of 13, left to work in the Arabian Gulf.

Whenever I hear something like this quote, I try to think what I was doing at that age. What was I doing at age 13? I had just started Junior High and I was worried about whether or not my friends would think my shoes were cool or not. I was definitely not thinking about travelling to a new country with the goal of providing for my family.

According to the 2009 Because I am a Girl Report,

“Girls and young women are ‘on the move’ for all sorts of reasons. Some are trafficked or are displaced by conflict or natural disasters. Some accompany their families, or move by themselves — seeking education and employment opportunities, escaping poverty or fleeing from abuse.”

Because of all these different reasons, migration can be either empowering or cause extreme vulnerability. It is estimated that there were 191 million international migrants worldwide in 2005, although its not clear how many of these migrants were girls. The complexities of migration mean that there is no simple answer to making it a positive experience and minimizing the vulnerability of migrating girls. As well, its important to remember that sometimes girls are those left behind when parents and siblings migrate for work and other reason.

Global discussions around international migration focus on management of migration (e.g., borders, customs and immigration policy) and the relationship between migration and development. Change will come when human rights, safety, and children/girls are included in the discussion. Also, addressing the issues that girls face that prompt them to migrate — lack of economic opportunity and emergencies to name a couple — will make a big difference in reducing their vulnerability in the face of migration.

(Photo Credit: Patrick Doheny)