Workshop in Mexico

Networking for migrant women's access to justice in Mexico

On 13 and 14 March, the World Women's Observatory (WWO) of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations (WUCWO) held in Mexico City, the workshop "Experiences and networking proposals about migrant women's access to justice in Mexico". The objectives of this workshop were: to deepen the thematic analysis by experts; to exchange good practices and to be able to interact as a network with some of the relevant actors on the Mexican territory.

As many as 36 representatives from 25 organisations participated, all of them committed to the defence of migrant women's human rights. Among the highlights were a panel of experts, who shared their experience on the general panorama of the new migration policies and their direct consequences on women. They also spoke about how the church is intervening and accompanying migrant women, linked to access to justice. Finally, a timeline was shared, marking the milestones in the modification of public policy based on specific cases and advocacy by civil society organisations.

Also participating in the event were two migrant women from Guatemala, who shared their life testimonies about access to justice in their daily lives. These experiences, although not entirely positive, are what have forged resilient women. In addition, they shared moments in their lives that they remember with great happiness and that have allowed them to restart their lives in Mexico. Their family is the most important pillar in their lives, especially their daughters, for whom they fight every day to give them the best. Although they have a stable life in Mexico, they still face difficulties in accessing social programmes, as one of them shares with us:

"My children have been able to go to school, but they don't get the benefits that other children get. They don't get government support because I don't have a birth certificate, the problem is that my document says deed of birth  and I don't have an INE, I have my permanent resident card as identification. They always tell us that it is not possible because I am a foreigner. I am already in the country regularly, but the school doesn't understand that".

This was followed by a tour of good practices in which each organisation introduced itself and shared material about its daily activities, with the aim of forming a network to facilitate communication and generate synergies for the resolution and accompaniment of cases. Although some organisations knew each other beforehand, each of their activities was explained in depth, which enriched the knowledge of the services they had.

Key moments of this workshop were the group work with the participating organisations, which gave their points of view on the difficulties and challenges they are facing due to the current context and the new policies imposed by the US government. They also discussed what actions could be taken as a network to improve and address the existing gaps in access to justice for migrant women. During this exercise, the following group conclusions were reached:

Challenges and remaining gaps:

• Lack of resources

• Fewer staff in shelters

• Current uncertainty

• Lack of NGO accompaniment

• Lack of awareness and sensitisation campaigns

• Lack of articulation

• Political indifference

• The lack of structures of the NGOs

  
  

Concrete networking proposals:

• Improving statistical knowledge and updating information

• Training of volunteers in listening and psychosocial care

• Sharing protocols and best practices among NGOs

• To make an awareness-raising campaign for the whole of society

• Having a common agenda to position issues in the network

• Encouraging more spaces for listening to migrants

  
  

On the other hand, a field visit was made to an organisation called Sin Fronteras, which has been working for 30 years and has been a pioneer in assisting and accompanying people in mobility. It was very important to learn about the work they are doing, as well as their spaces and equipment.

To ensure the continuity of the institutional strengthening of the organisations, a workshop was given on the creation and drafting of projects, with the possibility that two organisations could benefit from two grants, aimed at improving access to justice for migrant women assisted by these shelters. In addition, all this information will help the participants to develop projects to seek other types of funding that could benefit them.

Finally, the organisations agreed to strengthen a network in which knowledge and relevant information can be shared to contribute to the creation of conditions that allow migrant women to overcome barriers and gain access to justice and the rights that flow from it.